I was asked how to be creative

Recently I was asked how to be creative.

I wasn't sure if I was the best or even a good person to answer that.

But I tried...

"Everyone is creative in a slightly different way. The way people are creative can depend on the situation.

In general, it is certainly a good idea to draw on different sources to allow new associations to produce the necessary spark. This could mean talking to many people, brainstorming with many people with different backgrounds and experiences. And take advantage of different styles of thinking, such as slow and fast thinking.

This may be the default approach for most, but it may not lead to extraordinary results. Being creative is necessary if you want to solve a problem. There is an end to the means, but this in itself can inhibit the creative flow.

Three other points are important.

The first is to question the problem you are trying to solve. Is it the real problem? Sometimes it really helps to look at the environment of the problem, to rethink the goal, to see how others have solved it or how other people see the problem. This leads to a new way of looking at the problem, which may already be the solution. In any case, you will have a better understanding of the challenge you are trying to solve.

The second is that once you have a good understanding of the problem, you can try typical methods like Scamper, Walt Disney, 5W, Fishbone, brainstorming or - writing.... Or you stop the brute force creativity to come up with novel associations of things you are aware of. This means taking a walk or a shower, taking a nap, playing, stimulating your senses. Literally forgetting the problem for a moment. What happens then is that you allow your brain to make the new associations without consciously imposing constraints or judgements on it.

The last is to ask a lot of questions. To err on the side of asking questions. Use your childlike approach and ask lots of why, how and what if questions. They help to unlock more of the creative juice that is inside you.”

So everyone can be creative. If nothing works, take a nap.