Creativity Rules

Have you ever found yourself in a position where you're asked to be "instantly" creative? Maybe in a staff meeting? Or a client who is in trouble and needs a clever way out immediately? Or maybe you're writing a report, and you've got writer's block?

If this happens to you, you're not alone. Here are some ideas that might help:

1) Prepare the ground: if you can, find an environment that is conducive to creativity. For some people, this means a completely quiet place; for others, it may mean a room filled with stimulus.

2) Use a muse: Ask someone who is completely disconnected from the task for suggestions.

3) Change roles: Imagine you're in a completely different role, or a completely different industry: how would they solve the problem?

4) Answer the "how" not the "what": Creativity can be found in the strategy, but also in the implementation. If you're stuck on one, try the other.

This week's action item: For some, being "creative", means looking at other's work, and using their great ideas. Google and Social Media make this especially easy to do, and this is a serious problem. If you are basing your "new" idea on someone else's old one, be sure to give proper credit. In some cases, this means a hotlink back to the source or an explicit recognition within your content, while in other cases, it may mean getting written permission - or paying - for the right to use their ideas.

Randall Craig is an expert on Social Media Strategy and Social Media Policy; to find out how his workshops, webinars, and keynotes can help your team or add to your event, contact him through www.PersonalBalanceSheet.com, or by email at editor@ptadvisors.com.

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Copyright © 2010 Knowledge to Action Press and Randall Craig. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: July 27, 2010