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Creativity Techniques

Finding the solution to a problem or need that is cost effective and good enough for the purpose requires creativity of the highest order. No person should be an island in creativity exercises as each one of us has different levels of creativity, as well as ideas. Starting on the creative problem-solving journey requires as many ideas as possible so that the solution arrived at is the best available solution.

There are techniques that will make the journey to the eureka stage and beyond much more efficient, effective and quick. Use any one of them or in combination for best results.

1.  Brain Storming

The purpose of brainstorming is to get as many ideas as possible from a group of people in the shortest possible time. Quantity and not quality is the order of the day. It does not matter if the ideas are thought to be unworkable, or crazy, or outlandish by anybody within the group. Sometimes these ideas are the very ones that are adapted into other forms that solve the problem adequately.

To ensure the maximum effectiveness of the brainstorming technique, the following guidelines should be followed:

1. There should be no criticism of any idea from any member of the group

Criticism inhibits the free flow of ideas. Ideas that appear to be crazy or outlandish may well be the solution to the problem at hand. Crazy or outlandish ideas may spring forth workable variations that may not be available had those crazy or outlandish ideas not been there in the first place.

2. There should be no evaluation of the ideas generated

Evaluation of an idea requires some thought. There is a time for the evaluation of ideas, but the ideas must be available in the first place. Brainstorming elicits as many ideas as possible in readiness for the evaluation stage in order to make the creativity process much more efficient.

3. The more ideas generated, the better

Quantity and not quality is the order of the day in a brainstorming session. All activities should be geared towards extracting as many ideas as possible in a given period.

4. Combination or modification of the ideas generated is encouraged

To create more ideas, participants are encouraged to combine or modify the ideas already presented to come out with more ideas.

 

2.  Forcing New Connections

1. Observation

This method involves looking around you and making connections with things whether they show similarities or otherwise. The Tamagotchi "virtual pet" was invented when its creator linked the the fondness of the Japanese in keeping small pets in their cramped apartments with their fondness for flashing their mobile phones and pagers. The result: a "pet" that they can hang around their necks!

 

2. Random Word

You use your finger for this method to point to any word in a dictionary, newspaper, magazine or book. Then you relate whatever problem you have with this randomly-chosen word. Choosing a word totally at random and making a connection with your problem this way forces you to be creative in arriving at the connection that may well be the solution to the problem!

 

3. Quotations & Proverbs

This is similar to the Random Word technique except that you use a phrase, quotation or proverb. These phrases can be general enough to trigger off all sorts of connections with the problem at hand.

 

4. Crazy Idea

You can use the most crazy ideas in your brainstorming session to create connections between them and your problem for the purpose of arriving at a solution. The name of the game here is forcing the connections - in doing so you are actually putting on your best thinking cap.

 

3.  Breaking the Rules

One of the simplest ways of getting new ideas is to see what ideas have already been thought of, and then reversing or twisting those ideas to come up with new ones.

 

 

The "breaking the rules" technique challenges the "rules" set for something to come up with something else. For example, instead of building a lift inside a building as it had always been done, you can build it outside a building, and have a more beautiful view to look at (as is the recent trend). Instead of building big, spacious, petrol-guzzling cars as had been the case with car manufacturers not too long ago, you can build a small, space-conservative, fuel-efficient car and target a different market - and we all know how successful the Japanese have been.

 

 

To be creative, you must have this mindset that nothing is set in stone. What is perceived as impossible is not necessarily the case - it may simply be that nobody had spent time thinking of alternatives as they're contented with what they already have. During the oil crisis in the 1970s, solar power and other tools tapping nature's energy quickly emerged. However, after the crisis was over, it was back to the comfort zone. Development of alternative sources of energy took a backstep. But the fact that alternative sources of energy can be found if we spend some time thinking about them shows that we have it in us to discover that which is not obvious, if we allow ourselves to do it!