Creativity Process Demystified
Neither is the creative process a highly mysterious one which is practiced only by those who are blessed with natural creative talents. You can understand and even experience, perhaps for the first time, the practical steps of creativity that great thinkers use to come up with great ideas.
Simply put, the whole creative thinking process can be distilled down to five stages or phases of creativity.Phase 1: Problem Identification/Definition
The primary impetus of creativity is the realization of a problem.
That there's a problem at hand and you need a creative solution to it. This stage of the creative problem solving process is called the Problem Identification or Definition phase. It's when you size up the problem before and attempt to define it by establishing its parameters.
Here you immerse yourself in the problem, searching out any information that might be relevant. You let your imagination roam free, open yourself to anything that is even vaguely relevant to the problem.
The idea is to gather a broad range of data so that unusual and unlikely elements can begin to juxtapose themselves. Being receptive, being able to listen openly and well, is a crucial skill here.Phase 2: Idea Generation
Here, you generate a large number of ideas.
This stage of the creative thinking process should be freeing and characterized by inspiration, spontaneity, experimentation, intuition and without fear.
It is at this stage that you want to be careful about not judging the validity or feasibility of your ideas. Let your ideas flow and suspend judgment or self-censorship for the moment.
Great thinkers have discovered that they can only achieve their full creative potential by learning how to separate idea generation from idea evaluation. They know how to generate as many ideas as possible way before analyzing them.Phase 3: Incubation
This is the "sleeping on the problem" stage.
Once you have mulled over all the relevant information, you leave the problem to simmer. At this Incubation stage, you chew on all the data you have collated and wait almost passively.
You will have to trust your subconscious mind to do all the work. You literally let your mind "sleep on the problem."Phase 4: Illumination
This is probably the most exciting phase.
It's that part of the creativity process that seemingly makes all the effort and work worthwhile.
In this Illumination phase, you'll experience the sudden bubbling up of the answer. The creative solution or solutions seem to come to you out of the blue.
The Illumination stage is generally described as the "Eureka!" moment.Phase 5: Verification
This is the final stage of the dynamic creativity process. Called the Verification stage, here you look back over the other phases and evaluate your progress.
Related Tags: self improvement, creativity, creative thinking, creativity process, creative ideas
Patrick C. is a creativity trainer, a bestselling author, and a full-time puzzler. His unorthodox creative thinking techniques, visual icebreakers, brain teasers & learning systems have since intrigued hundreds of audiences and they are available at http://www.wordjuxtapoz.com
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Jewellery Courses Tap Into Exploding Market
Jewellery has always been a lucrative business, and it's not surprising that the popularity of jewel - Selecting Gifts For Care Packages
There are many reasons why we sometimes have to send gifts through the mail. A son may be serving hi - Understanding Colors
Color can be both light and matter. In fact, color connects the worlds of light and matter - two wor - Imindmap Your Way To Bigger Business
Time was, doing business was simple. It was all about basic trade determined by existing needs. For - 6 Ways To Cultivate Your Creativity
Creativity is the ability to create, also known as the creative process. Sometimes though creativity - Why Promotional Items Have An Effect On Buyers
Spending money on promotional items in this economic climate might seem like a luxury for a business - Manifesting A Creative Life In 10 Ways
Imagine manifesting a totally creative life. There are people who do have this capacity and we have - Strictly Come Dancing - The John Sargeant Saga Continues
The Strictly Come Dancing audience gasped and the judges looked shell shocked when John Sargeant and - How To Use Affirmations In Business
Positive affirmations are powerful tools to help you manifest what you desire into your life. Everyt - Your Signature: Change It For Special Occasions-and Fun
Some people think there is only one way to write their signature, and they do it that way day after
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Creativity Management: The Value of Diversity
I recently gave a presentation at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design on a topic entitle - The Friendly Home Bar
Looking to entertain your guests with something stirred or shaken? No, not another manic video game. - Can Creativity Be Taught
Naturally, since I am not in fact a world famous sociologist with an endless supply of PhD's on the - Craving a Creative Kick? Try These 7 Tricks!
As entrepreneurs and creative types we have to keep those great business ideas flowing otherwise the - Summer Every Season
Ahhh, the sumptuous days of summer. Clear skies, green lawns, barbeques and trips to the beach. Who - Can Creativity Be Measured?
Can creativity be measured? No, I don't think that creativity can be measured. There are no set rule - How To Unleash Your Creativity... A Guided Meditation
Unleash Your Creativity!What's so special about today? In this very moment you have a powerful oppor - Support to Develop Your Creativity Guaranteed
Regardless of who you are we all receive support from some where or someone. The support could be w - Solving Those Difficult Business Problems
This is a brief introduction to a problem solving technique known as Boundary Relaxation.A problem b - Just Say Yes to Your Creative Self!
How many times have you said to yourself, " I want to be more creative in my life?" and how many tim