The creativity and the innovation are key factors to ensure success in development strategies. In this post you'll find practical information on techniques and methods to develop your creative potential so simple and fun. ¿Te animas?
Only the innovative and creative solutions ensure a sustainable competitive advantage
Table of Contents
WHAT IS CREATIVITY?
The creativity can be defined as the ability to find ideas, solutions and partnerships, as well as the application of new knowledge needless to something previously existing.
The word “creativity” comes from the Latin “creato” (creation), and is located in the brain. For this reason, some of the techniques used to encourage the creativity consist of mental exercises with which we can “train” to our brain.
Aspects such as the power or stress have a direct impact on our ability to be creative. With respect to the powerin the creative processes involved large number of chemical substances. A good diet that is rich in proteins and large inputs of water, foster the creative process and the mental performance. On the other hand, in situations of stress our body produces adrenaline, and this increase of hormones causes the decrease of nerve impulses in the brain. As consequences we can suffer locks, and blackoutsreducing our creative possibilities.
How do you differentiate the hemispheres of the brain?
According to studies, the two halves of the brain differ in tasks and capabilities.
The left half is responsible for the assimilation of the tasks rational. It is classified as the logical structures linear, numbers, language, facts, and detailed guidance. In addition, it also has trends evaluative verbal, analytical, digital, and organization.
The right halfon the contrary, specializes in fantasy, the feelings, the rhythm, the sense of space, the spontaneity, the artistic, visual, thoughts, symbolic, chaos, and in the creativity.
It is of great help activate both parts of the brain in the development of tasks in order to benefit from its functions in an integrated way. If we sense that one of our two halves of the brain is dominant over the other, it is beneficial to work in the balance of both hemispheres. In this way, we can get the specialties of each hemisphere are simultaneously available.
Generally, one half of the brain dominates the other. Then, How could I achieve again the balance between the two hemispheres? There are different techniques to do this, one of the most used is by using the technique of the eight lying down.
Technique of the "Eight Lying down"
By using this technique, it works that the dominant hemisphere of our brain to achieve balanced to whether to leverage their skills in a better way.
How is it done?
We locate the feet of the width of the shoulders we stand right. We maintain the right head, and with eyes continue several times an imaginary figure eight lying down. We can accompany the movement gently with the head. This visual tracking manages to integrate both hemispheres of the brain and with that balance the possibilities that are available. The reason for this is that this visual field of both halves of the brain will be controlled. For the central area of the visual field, both halves of the brain are necessary. Through the movements appropriate visual, both halves will activate, and their work together, you are going to encourage.
Other Tips to exercise the brain
Performing actions that never, or almost never do, incentive capabilities, not dominant in the brain. These can be physical or mental. For example, if you're used to stand with the left leg, switch to the right or if we brush the teeth with the right hand, switch to your left hand.
A great enemy: The mental Blocks
Mental blocks can be caused by stress, fears, insecurities or lack of stimuli. The mental blocks they belong to the pressure by expectations or the lack of time available. Psychologists recommend to create a tie individual creativity. For example, think of a time in which we were creative, recalling with accuracy that we saw or heard at the time that they encouraged our creativity. With our non-dominant hand can raise your thumb and index finger to focus so intense that I remember. This exercise supposed to help increase the power inside of concentration and connection with creative resources of the brain.
Techniques previous to creative processes
Some technical pre the implementation of exercises of the potential use creative they are:
– Breathing stomach: We place the hand on your stomach while we carry out soft breaths abs. It is recommended to between 4 and 6 deep breaths to oxygenate the brain and reduce stress.
– Balance: Place 2 or 3 fingers in the cavity below the rim of the skull behind the ears. With the other hand, we press gently the navel and breathe for 1 minute to inhale and exhale comfortably.
– Load: For this exercise you will need a desk and a chair (can be done on the job, for example). Put your hands on the table. Sits down in the chair so that you can put on the forehead between the hands on the table. While we inhale, we climbed slowly the head, then the neck and back.
– Draw with two hands: With a sheet of paper and a pencil in each hand and begin to draw the same ways as if it were a mirror. At the beginning, geometric shapes simple and we're going to increase the complexity. This exercise increases our ability spatial and prepares it for the creative process.
– Yawn: While bostezamos, we we massage gently into the area of the jaw and mouth. This produces a state of relaxation and facilitates the release creative.
– Take another “point of view”: Do not continuously remain sitting, or in the same space. Perform activities in the outdoors, sport, ...
– Train all our senses. In a world where the visual hides from us the rest of our senses, try to perform activities that promote the opposite.
CREATIVITY AS A COMPETITIVE FACTOR
The term “innovation” comes from Latin and means “change” or “renewal”. Then we can understand by innovation, the improvement through the renovation. The improvement of internal and external factors that can mean improvements of the competitive capabilities and value-addedfor example, products and services of local entrepreneurship.
While the innovative start-ups expand their opportunities for the medium-and long-term projects that remain in the traditional, and maintain a approach merely productive, they run the danger of ending up disappearing. In this way, the creativity plays a competitive factor essential for companies or development projects.
Phrases such as “Necessity is the mother of invention” we suggest that, in most cases, the incentive of the creative process comes from the pressure and the need for change. On the contrary, development programs or local ventures with high market share also require future strategies for innovative because of that niche markets are highly volatile.
Once we are clear on the need to employ innovative strategies, we ask the following question How can I promote and apply creativity in my projects?
THE CREATIVE PROCESS
The first step for the success in the application of creativity techniques, is the recognize and identify the problem (or challenges) existing and define the objective. The challenges, classified usually as a negative problems, are the starting point of the creative process. A challenge (or problem) is based on the difference between the state in which it should be and the current status. According to the difference between the two states, the greater the problem.
To understand the problem, it is necessary to asking the right questions. Open-ended questions and general, tend to give answers that are of little help. On the contrary, the questions that go straight to the core of a problem are significantly useful.
"The creative inspiration, falls single of the sky"
To get to a creative output that solves our problem (or challenge) of the game, must explore the process of creativity. Our the starting point must be a question as specific and concrete as possible, to which we are going to look for a possible solution constructive and innovative.
METHODS FOR DEVELOPING CREATIVITY
Find creative solutions is not an exercise in random, though sometimes we may seem. There are a multitude of techniques and methods with which we can control and quantify our creative solutions.
Creative methods can be divided into 3 large groups, as seen in the following image:
ASSOCIATIVE TECHNICAL
Brainstorming
One of the techniques of creativity most well-known and of which there are many variants. The common feature of all of them is the exchange of stimulation of the participants. For its good development and its effectiveness, it is important to have the formulation of the problem well-defined.
Basic rules of brainstorming
- Quantity before quality. More ideas together, the better
- Comment spontaneous ideas that will captivate and inspire participants
- Not to make any comments hidden or open to the ideas of their own or of others, not to censor or quantify the ideas proposed.
- No one has the right of authorship on an idea, it is a group process in which we all have responsibility
- Phrases killer kill ideas (the type; you can't do that because ...)
How to perform a rain of ideas
It is important before you start to achieve an atmosphere of work motivated and lively, giving them the chance to the participants to find a theme where they feel safe. The roles of the participants of a brainstorming are:
- Active participants and contributors in the composition of the group
- A moderator: it presents the problem, tereas and speed up the activity. Only intervenes when necessary.
- An editor of acta session, which does not participate in the search for the idea and is focused on capturing the essence of the contributions of the participants.
The phases of brainstorming are the following:
- Presentation of the task: It exposes the problem (challenge) and the question of departure. The presentations can influence the type of ideas later. For example, a non-conventional may promote the emergence of ideas of non-conventional
- Collection phase: We begin the main phase of this technique where participants are exposed to different ideas that we're collecting. It is important to emphasize that none of the ideas that arise can be evaluated as we run the risk of not exploring conveniently the creative potential of the brainstorming.
- Preliminary selection and first-structuring: Are classified as the ideas sirgidas for groups. For example:
- Ideas for immediate use
- Utility that needs to be investigated
- Ideas are not usable
- Evaluating alternative solutions: we structure the alternative solutions, and seeks consensus in the group
- Plan of action: It is about placing the solution(s) agreed upon by determining the responsibilities and schedules accurate to the steps of the solution
Rains of Individual Ideas
This technique can also be applied to a single person and their phases are similar to the ones described above. We formulate the tasks that we want to solve. 15-20 min for the search phase of ideas. We note the terms in which we describe the thoughts spontaneous that came to our mind. When we have found and fixed a term, we continue collecting until you have between 20-50 keywords. The scored all (ignoring our “inner censor”. Before you begin to structure the key words and evaluate them, déjamos a few minutes of rest.
In general, with this technique, individual brainstorming is to a lesser extent, find ideas that can take directly into practice and further develop starting points to think about possible solutions
Brainstorming Anonymous
Here we suppress the mutual stimulation in the production of ideas. Each participant develops their own idea to the solution of the problem, and that is not to influence or block the other participants in their search for solutions.
This mode makes sense when the group of participants are people from different hierarchical levels and it is assumed that the participants of lower ranks can be influenced by people of larger ranges (for example, in the breast of a company). This method also ensures greater freedom of expression of the participants. Can last around 30 minutes, and is preferably from 4 to 7 participants.
How is it done?
The moderator presents the task. Each participant writes his idea on a sheet of its own. Then the facilitator collects the ideas and present ideas to the group. In the discussion (as a group) to develop the solutions and seeks consensus.
Rain of Teaching and learning Ideas
Here the moderator has a role more participatory already addressed to the participants, step by step, through the pursuit of ideas. In addition, the moderator of dosing the information of starting and increases on the complexity of the problem.
The moderator takes the role of expert on the subject or as an external mediator. The purpose is to develop the goals in the different levels and that do not rush or complete of global approaches.
How is it done?
The moderator leads the group, and divides the process of solving the problem on a number of tours and, in turn, will providing detailed information. After each data entry, the moderator made a new tour of the rain of ideas. Can last around 30 minutes, and is preferably from 4 to 7 participants.
Brainstorming Destructive and Constructive
In this variant is considered to be all ways to focus on the weaknesses and shortcomings of a discussion. This destructive vision will be transformed into a constructive approach while bringing proposals to address known weaknesses.
The main advantage of this rain of ideas, is that, initially, offers a useful description of the situation. The negative perspective of the beginning ensures that the true significance of an issue to be recognized, and so one is not bound to be tempted to hide the negative situations of apparent little importance. For the individual elements of the problem are to find effective solutions, and specific which you are going to obtain a complete solution and integral.
How is it done?
The moderator will present the tasks. For 10 minutes it will be presented the problem with the weaknesses and shortcomings of the procedure. For 30 minutes, the problem will be defined in your set and will set the search of new potential solutions. For the final analysis of the alternative solutions, and for the election of the general agreement of the solution, each participant builds his ideal solution and the presents.
Method 6-3-5
This kind of brainstorming is done in written form in the group. The rating 6-3-5 is based on:
- 6 participants
- 3 ideas per participant and round
- 5min writing ideas for each round
This method is primarily aimed at the search of new ideas, it tends to inspire the ideas of the participants and, through this, to be able to continue developing them.
How is it done?
Takes about 30 minutes. Each participant receives a sheet of paper with 3 columns and 6 rows. The moderator presents the task. Each participant writes in each box of the first row an idea (for a total of 3 ideas), and then passes the sheet to its right neighbour. Each participant has 5 minutes to write down your ideas. The ideas of the participants may be new or complete, and vary the ideas previously written. Only at the end of the search of ideas there will be a first appreciation of the idea.
At the completion of the forms 6-3-5 shipped back to the participants who have to dial in 3 different ideas for each leaf, which they consider more convenient to solve the problem. After you are evaluated in a group of these ideas.
Annotations Collective
Prepare a notebook where we write the tasks and problems of departure, adding graphics or explanations that may be helpful. We ensure that these are available to all participants and have it clear the time you have. Finally we draw conclusions and evaluate the proposals, it Is important to have a good description of the problem and to motivate the participants with some calls to action and advice, such as: Do you have any occurrence to solve the problem? Then write or draw your idea! Here there is no censorship, I do Not write comments on the ideas that have already been given!, All thoughts are welcome!, When you are finished, leave the notebook in its place!
Method Cards
It is a variant graph of the brainstorming that works very well when there are participants more self-conscious than it costs them to express themselves.
How is it done?
We will need a memo board, thumbtacks (or magnets), marker and colored cards. First, the moderator presents the problem and the tasks, and notes in card view of all. Each participant writes in about 10 minutes their ideas to solve the problem in one card (1 card, 1 idea). Placed all the ideas on the board and the participants classified as a group for any kind of relationship (we are looking for a title for each group). Within each group, we classify the ideas by criteria, for example, costs, practicality, implementation, duration, resources required, etc, we can Also relate the different ideas between if (creating a kind of mental map). In total, we employ about 30 minutes and is recommended from 4 to 10 participants for this variant of brainstorming.
Background of Ideas (Brainwriting)
It is another variant of brainstorming autonomously where is encouraged that all participants have the same chance to present their ideas
How is it done?
We only need a couple of blank sheets. The moderator exposes the problem and leaves it listed in the center of the table. Also leave some of the leaves in the center of the table with some possible solutions. Each participant on your sheet write down their ideas and key words to solve the problem. When they run out of ideas puts its own sheet in the center of the table, in the “fund of ideas”. After it picks up some of the sheets that are in this stock and are inspired by it to create new ideas. The process can last between 20-40 minutes, and is recommended from 4 to 8 participants.
Mental Maps
In this technique activates both hemispheres of the brain to make it accessible to the organizational structures of the individual thinking. Thoughts can inspire each other and all of this can be incentivized and insured in an organic way.
How is it done?
On a A3 sheet of horizontal writing to you in your half of the problem or concept of the problem (or a symbol representative). From this nucleus grow various branches was a term for a sub-theme. All these terms represent the thoughts that are related to it (can be used in formulations short, images, or symbols). Of the main arms can grow secondary branches in different directions. We can help color if the topics and sub-topics are too numerous. First, we must collect all of the ideas and subsequently evaluate them.
Grouping (Cluster)
The starting point for the expression of thoughts and emotions is to form a specific concept or conceptual of a feeling for the memory to produce the feelings and thoughts related. The word “cluster” means a group or association” in the sense of the connection between information, ideas, and feelings.
How do you perform Individual Cluster?
As in the technique of mind mapping, we take a large sheet of paper lisa where we write in the middle the concept that you should not come out of our thoughts and enclose them in a circle. Then, we all occurrences around this core concept, in 360 degrees around it on the paper, and in the same way we these ideas in circles. We use concepts short and to the point, without stopping in explanations. In summary, the grouping is based on our own personal thoughts and takes only structures from the inside out. If we oftentimes get stuck in the current associative, we return to the main concept and from there we started with new partnerships.
How to make Cluster in a group?
It is important that you create a natural environment and open for this technique in a group to be successful. To the majority of people the methods of association, as well as to express their thoughts freely, are unusual. The size should not exceed 5 participants, if the groups are larger, we can divide them into small groups of 3-5 people. As dynamic pre-it is interesting to invite participants to take a comfortable position and relax with your eyes closed thinking about the main idea and their associations.
The first participant to write down your idea in the leaf, closes in a circle) and passes it to the next person. The concepts and key words are interrelacionándose each other.
PROCEDURES FOR SYSTEMATIC
Matrix Morphological
This method provides us with a search of ideas from a strategic approach. Is awarded by the astrophysicist Fritz Zwicky, who made it possible for the thorough examination of the ability of a task, listing all the possibilities, review them and decide finally the correct variant.
How is it done?
Once defined our problem starting, we divide it into subproblems. The characteristics of these elements are noted to the left of a role, and in the right-hand side creates a scheme in which we noted a possible partial solutions are combined in a general solution. The goal of this technique is to find the optimal solution or appropriate to the main problem by breaking them down into sub-problems. The recommended time is 1 to 5 hours with a 7 participants.
Boxes Morphological
The main difference with respect to the method of matrix morphological here is that we speak of works an analysis that occupies 3 dimensions. The array of 3 dimensions represents a relationship of coherence complex and qualifies the combinations corresponding.
How is it done?
Same procedure as the Matrix, Morphological, but by adding an extra dimension
The 6 Hats
This method is quite versatile and can be applied in a group or individually, although it is less advisable. It is a method very interesting to get additional perspectives to more complex problems.
How is it done?
It is a kind of simulation in which each of the 6 participants is put on a hat of a different color that represents a certain perspective of the problem domain. The hats can be exchanged to address the issues from all possible points of view. In this way, the different points of view are going to be busy expanding the perspective.
Every color of hat represents the following:
White: represents the analytical thinking, objectivity and neutrality. The who what wear collect information without evaluating it. Account only the facts and figures, it does not account for emotions or opinions, regardless of your personal opinion.
Red: represents feelings of personal and subjective opinions. Express positive feelings or negative.
Black: represents the rational arguments and objectives that represent a doubt, reflection and risk, but without dealing with feelings.
Yellow: representing the characteristics objetivaspositivas, that is, opportunities, and strengths.
Green: represents new ideas, creativity, and alternatives to the existing ones. The provocation, crazy ideas and the opposition are accepted.
Blue: represents the order, control, organization, and shared vision.
Participants can get the hats consecutively to exchange perspectives. We recorded the impressions and corresponding results at the end of
Method Reverse
With this method to develop creativity, the problems are going to be turned inside out literally. That is, instead of thinking of ideas on how to increase customers, for example, is thought on the best ways to drive them off.
In a certain way, is examined here to disappointed customers, changing the angle of view of 180°, to show the true innovative solutions surpassing certain blocks of business.
How is it done?
The problem is observed from the opposite perspective, that is, what we formulated the other way around. To get the ideas that we can use creativity techniques such as brainstorming and collecting solutions. Finally, the approaches we will transform it into its opposite and estudioa the applicability of the ideas in the original problem.
Method of Walt Disney
Yes, the same Walt Disney created this method which considered as a creative strategy very effective. In this method of creativity are used to the different states of thought and get useful knowledge from different complementary perspectives.
For this method, it will take 3 complementary approaches: the dreamer, the critical and realistic. His creator, Walt Disney, said that even was created for each of these roles is a space with decor and colors for each state.
How is it done?
Choose 3 different areas that represent each of the 3 approaches (dreamer, a critical and realistic), which will be occupied by all the participants consecutively.
In the first round, this is achieved initially the awareness of a problem in general. The dreamer begins and imagine desirable states that he writes to them in detail to the other participants. The representative of the realistic is located in the state of person of action and informs the others of his thought. Finally, the critic exposes their thoughts.
In the second round, we take the next role that should be different from the previous one. Now is already defined and precise in detail the problem or goal in question.
Some inner questions that can help us to boost the activity would be:
In the space of the dreamer: What fantasies and visions have I to do here? What I wish I here to me?
In the space of realistic; What skills I have to make these goals? What people and resources I need for which functions? What are the steps that I should follow?
In the space of the critic: a critic What I think of the presentations of the other 2 of the dreamer and the realist? What were the two of them? How can I complement it?
In the third round, again with the approaches exchanged, we imagine a solution that is more evolved than in the previous rounds in the space of the dreamer. Subsequently, in the space of realistic and plan the steps necessary for the transformation. After in the room of the critical thinking and review all the contributions above.
This process is repeated for the time that is necessary to achieve a realistic solution and agreed.
GRAPHIC TECHNIQUES AND ANALOGIES
Display
We can start with some exercises general relaxation, or as described to stimulate our creative potential above. Then, we try to imagine in detail and, in the most concrete way possible, as should be the aspect of the result that we would like to get. We've created a sort of waking dream on the projection of the future with our challenge reaching. This kind of creation of a “inner film” encourage the provision and strength to that member imaginative make it easier for us to reach creative and innovative solutions to the problems starting.
Bosiciación
This word was invented by the philosopher, cultural Arthur Koestler, who sought to describe the ability of being able to think from different points of reference to human beings. This method is evidence usually when people understand perspectives spontaneous or jokes.
While the association connects objects and thoughts with respect to a frame of reference, the bi-association linked elements from different contexts of reference without anything in common. As a technique of creativity, biasociación uses the fact that one in relation with this double thinking can perceive a situation or problem from the background of two frames of reference independent at the same time.
To cause biasociación we work on the visual language by assigning to objects and concepts certain features.
How is it done?
It is important in this technique to make a previous work suitable for creative processes. The problem (or goal) are formulated as specific approaches and clear. Later, we show you pictures, images, cuts, presses, etc that are going to be as distant as possible from the problem in terms of content.
From this base, you are going to choose a copy to be presented to the participants for their observations of a joint and associated key words and print on the same. I wrote down all these thoughts in booklets provided by the moderator.
After the round of associations, the initial question is put in the foreground. Now the participants will be stimulated to find solutions, while trying to put in relation to the initial problem with the impressions associated with the image. Through the incompatibility of the different frames of references of the initial problem and the visual objects provided, are going to develop creative ideas and informal, will be listed. In the end, we evaluate these ideas and select those that will be developed and presented according to their interest and applicability.
Technique of the Word Conflicting
In the same way, this method of creativity linked things together that don't seem to have anything to do with each other. This technique is creative serves for a single person or for a group.
How is it done?
After exposing the initial question and the problems of starting, open a dictionary at random and choose a term spontaneously. Then, collect all of the features of that word is conflicting, and we transmit it to our initial theme.
For example, if we have the word conflicting “paperweight” and our goal of development are variables for our product that are “pencils”, we can make the following table of relations:
Features paperweight | Features derived from the paperweight to the pen |
They are heavy duty | Classes of different weights to the strengthening of the hand |
Multiple forms | Pencils of different ways |
Additional functions | Pencils with additional functions (rule, additional information) |
Classic and modern | Diversity of styles of pencils |
Workshop of the Future
This method requires moderators with experience and able to handle dynamic groups, in addition to a previous preparation intensive participants. Should be made in at least 2 days with the same participants to the creative process remains in flux and should be taken into account continuously the current development.
How is it done?
The method is divided into 3 main phases:
- Phase Reviews and Complaints
- Ideas phase, Fantasy and utopia
- Implementation phase, implementation and practice
In phase 1 of complaints, the participants have the opportunity to express all the thoughts of critics and negative impressions These contributions can be recapitulados, for example, using the technique of creative cards-
In phase 2, fantasy and utopia, is put into practice creativity of the participants searching for desired solutions. For example, we can put it as a phrase of departure “would be better if ... “and we're completing. Then, we select the best outcomes through group consensus.
In the fase3 of conduct and practice, the thoughts and the results of the previous two phases are presented and studied what might be achievable.
To finish, it continues with a process in which the image target and the current situation are compared between them.
Question Miracles
This method originates and develops workouts related therapies and hypnosis. The question miraculous solves the approach to the problem and directs the thoughts to the solution. It is used especially when the problem is perceived as too powerful and we block mentally in search of a solution. The approach can be done individually or as a group.
How is it done?
“Let's imagine that a miracle happens during the night and the problem that we had game since there is no” What would we do first then?
The moderator is limited to sharpen the participants towards the solutions. By using an internal dialogue, or in a group, we focus our thoughts, regardless of the problem of starting and these are directed to the actions that you would do if there were no problem. Guided by the moderator, we will focus our ideas and actions made the problem starting.
CONCLUSIONS
The future of our projects (or enterprises) is to a large extent on the incorporation of creative solutions and innovative management of the different challenges and problems that we face. Be able to adapt quickly to situations unfavorable external and maintain an attitude predisposed to change and growth.
All people are born creative and suitable to work on this ability regularly, for example, by using some of the exercises described here. Different creative techniques will help you achieve to find this type of innovative solutions. It is important to choose conveniently, which is the method that is best suited to our situation. If you are focused on individual persons or groups, what is the nature and dimension of the problem, and which are our main fatores limiting. In addition, we must not forget that these techniques can be combined together so that we can address our problem in different approaches, which will be very rewarding.
Finally, once we have developed our creative capacity, applied some of the creative methods described previously, and we have innovative ideas... what do we do now?
At that time it would be the turn of presenting our idea, having convinced of its validity and its value to our business partners or the public object. A compelling introduction we will be of great help. The effective presentation of the idea is also part of the creative process, as well as the development of the idea. Therefore, you should prepare carefully for their presentation. Some tips for making presentations would be: to have a good structure, and that those who attend the presentation are always located in the same; use preferably short phrases, make the necessary pauses, maintaining eye contact and, especially, in case of doubt “less is more” and always keep in mind that:
“A good idea is not enough; it has to be palatable”
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Creativity techniques of Bernard Demory
- Creativity techniques of Karsten Noack
- Creativity 62 Exercises to Develop of Edward Bond
- Six Thinking Hats of Edward Bond
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