
Many people think that creativity can’t be taught and either you have it or you don’t. Well, this is a wrong perception. Research shows that everyone has creative abilities and the more training received, the greater potential for creative output.
One of the factors that improves creativity is setting up the right environment for creativity.
Below is an interesting article by James Harrington about setting up a creative space.
Individuals or groups are motivated to become creative for different reasons. The most common are:
- A significant emotional or traumatic event (e.g., your car doesn’t start in the morning, so you need to create a new way to get to work)
- Playfulness, brainstorming, or listing new ways to come up with something (e.g., a new way to serve a hot dog, such as on a stick)
- Systematic, purposeful creativity. The objective is to fill a void or come up with a better way to do something. It needn’t be playful or problem-solving in nature.
- To satisfy a personal desire. Some individuals are driven to look at things in a different way, or they feel the need to be creative.
- Time. Extra time is often required to develop and sell a creative solution that isn’t in line with an individual’s or organization’s culture.
- Environment. It’s difficult to be truly creative when you’re continually interrupted by phone calls, questions, or children climbing onto your lap.
- Success. Nothing gets Felix’s attention better than when we’re recognized because we come up with creative new solutions.
It’s a good idea to set aside a specific location where you can exercise your creativity. It doesn’t have to be a grand place: It could be a workbench in the garage or an old desk in the cellar behind the furnace. In my case, it’s a desk in a small back bedroom. The important thing is that in your mind – as well as in your family’s or business associates’ minds – it’s your space, and there are specific rules associated with it:
- Rule 1: No interruptions are tolerated unless it’s an emergency.
- Rule 2: The clean-desk policy doesn’t apply here. Don’t take time to organize the work area, and make it clear that it’s out of bounds to your spouse and or co-workers.
- Rule 3: Make your creative place visual. Use lots of Post-its to write down your good ideas, and stick them up around your area. Make sketches and flow diagrams and put them on the walls, too. Put up interesting pictures and change them often. Your creative place should stimulate ideas, not impress others.
- Rule 4: Create a relaxed atmosphere. Have a comfortable chair, one that you can lean back in while your mind goes blank and opens to creative thoughts. Have furniture that you can put your feet on. Choose a spot that’s not too hot or cold.
- Rule 5: Have the right equipment. Be prepared to be flooded with new ideas. When they come, you need to be able to capture them rapidly. Things that can be useful are:
- A computer
- Lots of paper
- Colored markers
- A tape recorder
- A CD or tape player
- A filing system
- A corkboard
- A bookcase
- Rule 6: Have a focal point. This is something that relaxes you when you look at it. It could be a window that you look out of or a small aquarium. An ocean scene or an abstract painting works well.