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What’s the Problem?
Using Your Creativity to Solve Problems
Are you creative? Maybe a little voice says “yes” but is overpowered by a stronger one saying, “I’m not the creative type—I don’t write novels, compose music, or produce art.” Most of us know creativity when we see it in others, but we do not always recognize it in ourselves.
Creativity is not only measured by writing a novel or a music score—creativity can be defined as the ability to solve problems. As human beings, our minds are structured not so much to memorize vast amounts of information, but rather to use information as a building block to solve problems. Ask yourself if you solve problems effectively. If you answered “yes,” then you are creative.
But creativity is not just finding answers—it is asking questions to clarify a problem. Creative answers do not come quickly, especially if you are pondering the wrong question. Once you start working on the right question, the creative answer not only is the most apparent but also makes the most sense (in hindsight). Creativity is listening to the obvious and responding to it.
In the end, there is no better way to wake up passion than to start using creative problem-solving skills. Here are some tips:
- Trust yourself. Creativity comes from within, often expressed as sudden insight. Stop looking to the outside for quick answers; trust your own judgment.
- Be persistent. When you offer a creative solution, others may feel threatened and shut you down with criticism. If you can, use criticism as feedback to make yourself and your work stronger.
- Suspend yourself in not knowing. The fear of not knowing inhibits creativity; not knowing feels uncomfortable because it is associated with looking stupid. Thus, any answer seems better than none, even a quick fix. Allow yourself to admit when you do not know the answer; the next time you feel as if you look stupid to others, consider it a character-building exercise!
- Listen with an open mind. Stop trying to rationalize problems away; when your toe is sore, stop telling yourself it does not really hurt. Listen until you recognize the real problem—only then will you have a chance to solve it.
- Be receptive to change. Often energy is spent trying to recapture something that worked in the past rather than using current ingredients to create a new recipe. Try something new.
- Share your ideas with others and listen to theirs. Do not worry about who gets the credit; suspend your ego and let the merit lie in the solution. “Seek and ye shall find; knock and the door will be opened.”
Using your Creativity to Solve Problems
- Be willing to make a mistake. Just because an idea is creative does not mean it solves the problem. You may go through several creative ideas that do not work before you get to the one that does. If you get stuck with every mistake, you will stop the process short of success. In short, don’t sweat the small stuff.
- Delegate problem-solving authority and demand authority to solve your own problems. As a supervisor, you feel more comfortable delegating tasks than the authority to develop solutions. As an employee, you feel more comfortable doing something the boss’s way even when you know better. To solve problems creatively, both of these scenarios must change.
- Holly go lightly, have fun! The best solutions come to a relaxed mind. Take a break when you need it; stop taking working weekends and vacations. Stress sets up a closed-minded survival mode that inhibits even the best ideas.
If you would like develop your creative problem-solving and writing skills, consider doing an on-site workshop—call us at 312.944.0910 for more information. We look forward to hearing from you. Enjoy the holidays!
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