Here’s how you can be more creative

There are ways you can learn to be more imaginative. Here’s five to consider.

There is no gene for creativity, so you can work on it.

Often, we treat creativity like a gene inherited by a special few who work in artistic fields like film, music, design or fashion. When non-artists compare themselves to these talented folks, they often come up feeling short. But it’s time to reconsider. Simply put, to be creative is to use our imaginations, which most of us do every single day. At work, we use creative shortcuts to manage our time and productivity, design engaging presentations and strategise plans for the future. At home, we are creative every time we try a new hobby or cook a new meal. I’ve spent the majority of my career studying human behaviour. I’ve learned creativity is a powerful tool that can make our lives and work more fulfilling. Those who practice creativity have an easier time breaking through limiting beliefs and cognitive biases. Here are a few science-backed ways to help you begin.

Practice divergent thinking

Remember that famous poem about two roads diverging in a yellow wood? Well, that’s kind of what happens in our minds when we practice divergent thinking. The term was coined by the American psychologist J.P. Guilford in the 1950s, who defined it as “cognition that leads in various directions”. It has been historically tied to creative problem-solving. Divergent thinking is often triggered when we participate in open-ended activities — such as journaling, free writing or improvisation games — that allow our thoughts to shoot off in several different directions. Some of those paths lead to original ideas and others don’t. But, in the end, we are still able to come up with multiple solutions to a problem, as opposed to just one solution that is driven by our (inevitably) biased assumptions. How can you practice divergent thinking?

Disrupt functional fixedness

First, you need to understand something psychologists call functional fixedness: our tendency to see things exactly as they appear. It’s a cognitive bias that limits us to believing an object can only be used in the most obvious and traditional way. For example, we know that a stapler is used to attach loose sheets together, but we rarely consider that it can double as a paper weight. We know that socks are meant to keep our feet warm, but few of us realise they can be recycled into dust rags, or even bird feeders. Functional fixedness limits our ability to think divergently, or “outside of the box”. To overcome it, try playing a game: Take two or three mundane office or household items (a sock, a paper clip or a stapler) and brainstorm as many alternative uses as you can for each.

Try out the Torrance Test

James Kaufmann, an American psychologist known for his research on creativity, suggests this method. In one version of this test, you’re presented with incomplete figures that look more like half-shapes and lines on a blank sheet of paper. Then, you’re given a pen, and asked to complete the drawings. It’s an exercise that’s easy to replicate on your own (or you can find some free templates through a simple Google search) and an excellent way to exercise your creative muscles. The better you become at training your mind to think divergently, the more useful you will find it in real-life situations. For instance, in 2020, while we were stuck indoors, many people adapted household items like water containers and benches into gym training equipment. Workers propped up their phones and computers with music stands, shoe boxes, or binder clips to join remote meetings.

With a little practice, you will be able to apply similar methods to solve less tangible problems, such as how to network virtually, approach a challenging conversation or even pitch yourself for a new role.

Have more fun

A simple way to boost your creative genius is to infuse it with more fun and games. Remember how as a child you could easily turn a cardboard box into a spaceship or piece of tinfoil into an antenna? That’s because when we switch our minds into “play mode” we are more comfortable with the idea of failure, our fear is reduced, and we are free to think openly. Play theorist Brian Sutton-Smith is famous for his research in this area. In the 1960s, he demonstrated that participants who were told to practice divergent thinking — or imagine various uses for a specific object — were likely to come up with considerably more ideas than their peers if they were allowed to play with the object first.

Break up your routines

Humans are creatures of habit. Biologically, we love routines, and while not all habits are bad, few are great for creativity. Think of routines as the opposite of divergent thinking. When we do the same things at the same times every day, we eventually go on autopilot and stop using our brains to observe, analyse and brainstorm better options or choices. Research suggests that freeing ourselves from routines, on the other hand, allows creativity to flourish. The fewer parameters or restrictions, the better.

In the words of Albert Einstein: “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

Mark Carter is an international keynote speaker, trainer and coach . Copyright 2021 Harvard Business Review/ Distributed by the NYTimes Syndicate