Pushing Through Creative Blocks At Work
Get that extra hour of sleep, spend time in nature or just allow ideas to flow, half-baked and unjudged, to propel your creative juices
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“Creativity is a wild mind and a disciplined eye” – Dorothy Parker
What does creativity mean to you?
I am always amazed by the varied and diverse responses I receive to this question. Some call it creating something new; some say it is coming up with an original idea while others call it combining different things. To many, it means doing the same thing differently.
No matter what your definition of creativity, it is an important aspect and dimension of fulfillment as a human being. While professions such as acting, photography, painting, etc. are expected to engage creative people, as human beings, we use our creativity in everyday life no matter what the profession or task. Every single person can be creative, and the most mundane task can be made original. It is about tapping into this energy and letting it emerge.
Leaders everywhere want their people to innovate in their jobs to survive the competition, irrespective of the role or industry. Creativity is a fundamental requirement for innovation. Although creativity resides within each one of us, it is not always easy to access it.
Are there times when you feel creatively challenged?
The vital thing to note is that creativity initiates in the right brain and manifests through the left-brain activity into something concrete through action. The birth of creativity happens in the softer emotional side of us, not the logical part of the brain. To ignite creative thinking, you must engage in stirring those dormant emotions. As a writer, I find myself creatively challenged often. I have tried a few methods myself to overcome the blocks and come into a state of flow. Sharing some of the ways to overcome creative blocks:
The thing about creativity is that it is softer subtler energy that cannot be forced. It can hit you when you least expect it. One method may do wonders in one instance and may not work at all another time. To propel through those creative blocks, understand the environment that is conducive for your creative juices to flow and surrender to that.
The author is Founder and CEO of Talent Power Partners, a Leadership Development company based in Bangalore, India.