Exploring Creativity: Understanding its Concept, Relationship with Intelligence, and Effective Techniques for Cultivation

 

Creativity: Concept, relationship with intelligence, techniques for fostering creativity

*THE CONCEPT OF CREATIVITY*

Creativity can be seen as the following: a divine quality, serendipitous activity, ‘planned luck’, endurance and ‘method’.

Petrowski stated that “creativity research belongs to the baby-boom generation, beginning in earnest when Guilford directed the American Psychological Association in his 1950 presidential address to focus on this important but neglected area”. The existence of creativity as a modern term emerged from the results of the pioneering efforts of Guilford (1950) and Torrance (1962, 1974). Guilford and Torrance were psychometric theorists and they attempted to measure creativity from a psychometric viewpoint.

*CREATIVITY: DEFINITION*

                                                   

Guilford (1950) defined creativity as “the abilities that are most characteristic of creative people”. Creativity is defined in as “the production of novel, appropriate ideas in any realm of human activity, from science to the arts, to education, to business, to everyday life”, thus the ideas have to be new and appropriate to the opportunity or problem presented.

It can be defined as “a domain-specific, subjective judgment of the novelty and value of an outcome of a particular action” or as “the production of novel and useful ideas in any domain” and as “the generation of novel ideas, without too much regard for their usefulness”. Creativity is an engagement process in creative acts regardless of whether the outcomes are creative, novel and useful or not. Creativity is “the production of novel and useful ideas, processes, or products by a person or group”. Consequently, there is an agreement among researchers that creativity means “something is both novel and valuable”. Creativity is commonly regarded as the production of novel and useful ideas or problem solutions.

CREATIVITY: CONCEPT

Creativity includes two dimensions. The first dimension is the novelty notion. The second dimension is the usefulness notion. Creativity can be seen as a mental process which produces novel and useful concepts or ideas, or it could be innovative relationships between existing ideas or concepts.

The importance of creativity because of its ability to yield novel and proper ideas to solve complex problems, to increase efficiencies and to enhance overall effectiveness. Creativity includes two principles problem finding’, and ‘problem solving’, and creativity needs several skills and talents. Thus, creative thinking is not conventional and requires modifying or rejecting existing ideas. Individual creativity can be defined as “a person’s ability to think beyond the obvious and produce something novel and appropriate”.

Creativity can be divided into three types, and they are: creating something new, combining things together, and improving or changing things.

*CONCLUSION*

The relevant literature indicates that there is no agreement about where creativity is located in a process, a product or a person. Creativity can vary from a slight change to total change. It is commonly regarded as the production of novel and useful ideas or problem solutions. Individuals may have high creativity if they have the personality traits of creative people and therefore creativity has been perceived in different ways as a mental ability, a process and a human behavior.

*Relationship between creativity and intelligence*

Creativity and general intelligence are related in the sense that highly creative people rarely have below-average IQs. Those with average or above average intelligence, however, are not necessarily creative. An individual can be intelligent but not creative, but a creative individual is also intelligent.

The main difference between creativity and intelligence is that creativity is the ability to create new ideas and concepts and also to enact or to produce them while intelligence is the ability to acquire knowledge and to utilize it.

Creativity is very important to organizations that want to solve new problems, fix current ones and be innovative in their industry. 

*Techniques for fostering creativity*

Tips to foster creativity:

1. *Use the power of brainstorming*

By encouraging your employees to brainstorm, you are collecting new ideas while making sure that all of their voices are heard. Hold regular sessions where employees take turns sharing ideas that they’ve thought of. Jot down all the ideas and then hash them out as a group to come up with a list of the best ones that make the most sense for your corporate objectives. One way to brainstorm is to create a mind map of the problem where you can select a main topic and the subtopics underneath it. This is a great way to find the route of the problem you’re trying to solve. Another way to brainstorm is to force yourself to write for a period of time without stopping. This will push ideas out of you. Finally, you can brainstorm effectively by taking breaks and removing yourself from the office.

2. *Create diverse teams*

In order to create a diverse environment, you need to focus on people. Assemble a group of employees who don’t usually collaborate, who have a different set of strengths and weaknesses and who come from different backgrounds. Make sure that everyone on the team has equal say and input into the project. By doing this, your employees will be able to learn from each other and bring more to the table than if you had a group of like-minded individuals.

3. *Reward great ideas*

Let your team vote on the best ideas that come out of your brainstorming sessions. You can even give the winner a prize as an incentive for employees to put more thought into their ideas. The team has to know that their ideas are going to matter, which is why you should invest in the best idea if it makes sense for the company, and you have the budget for it. The team will work harder if they know they are causing change and that they can potentially bring their idea to market.

4. *Give them big open spaces*

Create an open and spacious environment so your team is relaxed by removing as much clutter as possible. Have your employees vote on the type of environment they want to be in. Some might want classical music playing while others may prefer a minimalist approach. In any scenario, the important thing is that employees feel good while working and can concentrate on the task at hand. Cubicles won’t create a collaborative environment, so try and avoid those if at all possible.

5. *Make sure your management supports creativity*

Your employees will take risks if they know that you support them. If they know their ideas won’t be considered, then they won’t try to come up with them and no change will take place. You need to show that highly creative people are more valuable and employable if you want people to take it seriously and act on it. Don’t penalize employees for taking risks and thinking outside of the box – embrace it!

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**FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWERS ON CREATIVITY 

Q.1. *What is creativity? *

A.1.Creativity is the ability to generate novel ideas, solutions, or concepts that are both original and valuable. It involves breaking away from traditional thinking patterns to produce something new and meaningful.

Q.2. *Is creativity limited to artistic endeavors? *

A.2. No, creativity extends far beyond the realms of art. While art is a common outlet for creative expression, creativity permeates every aspect of human endeavor, including problem-solving, scientific discovery, entrepreneurship, and more.

Q.3. *What is the relationship between creativity and intelligence? *

A.3. While creativity and intelligence are related, they are not synonymous. Intelligence involves the ability to acquire knowledge and solve problems logically, while creativity involves thinking outside the box and generating innovative ideas. However, creative individuals often exhibit high levels of intelligence, as creativity frequently requires the ability to make connections between disparate concepts.

Q.4. *Can creativity be learned and cultivated? *

A.4. Yes, creativity can be learned and nurtured through various techniques and practices. Just like any skill, creativity can be developed through exercises, exposure to diverse experiences, and fostering a mindset that embraces experimentation and risk-taking.

Q.5. *What are some effective techniques for cultivating creativity? *

A.5. Mindfulness and openness: Being present in the moment and open to new experiences can stimulate creativity by allowing you to perceive the world from different perspectives.

Brainstorming: Engaging in brainstorming sessions where all ideas are welcome, without judgment, can lead to innovative solutions and concepts.

Divergent thinking exercises: Activities that encourage generating multiple solutions to a problem or exploring various possibilities can enhance creative thinking.

Cross-disciplinary exploration: Drawing inspiration from different fields and disciplines can spark new ideas and approaches.

Play and experimentation: Embracing a playful attitude and willingness to experiment can fuel creativity by removing inhibitions and fear of failure.

Q.6. *Are there any common barriers to creativity? *

A.6. Yes, several factors can hinder creativity, including fear of failure, self-doubt, rigid thinking patterns, and a lack of exposure to diverse experiences and perspectives. Overcoming these barriers often involves cultivating a mindset that embraces uncertainty, failure, and continuous learning.

Q.7.*How does creativity benefit individuals and society? *

A.7. Creativity fosters innovation, problem-solving, and adaptability, which are essential skills in an ever-changing world. It drives progress and drives advancements in various fields, from technology and science to the arts and humanities. Additionally, creativity enriches our lives by providing avenues for self-expression, exploration, and connection with others.