Creativity is one of the strongest characteristics valued in our society (and especially at MetroStar); it also is one of the main ingredients in the recipe for success, and it tastes like pink Starbursts. Okay, maybe not the pink ones, but it’s definitely in the same category of awesome, you get my point.
In this day and age of constant overload – you need to be creative in order to stand out. That’s not going to be easy and let’s face it certain individuals are just more creative than others, but just like any characteristic, it is developed and cultured over time and practice.
What I’m trying to say is you can be more creative if you want to. If you are not tapping into your potential, there are ways to manipulate your thought process accordingly. The formula for understanding the creative process can break down into three components. It takes a balance of all three to excel in creativity. These components are: expertise, motivation, and creative-thinking skills.
Expertise:
This is the amount of knowledge and experience: technical, intellectual, or procedural, one has in a particular field. Do you ask a chef for car advice? No, (at least, I hope not) I mean why would you right? My point is just because an individual understands one domain does not mean that mastery can be easily translated into other domains.
You need to be aware of what you excel in and use it to your advantage to create a specific niche for yourself. The better your understanding of a topic is, the more likely you are able to manipulate an image in creative and innovative way. This might be common sense, but it is an important factor to consider.
Motivation:
Motivational drive fluctuates within individuals through external and internal variables. Motivation will never be equal amongst individuals; but that doesn’t mean you can’t manipulate it right? One can significantly increase chances of motivational passion and drive by offering intrinsically motivated rewards – give them ownership in their product, creative freedom and it will drive more engagement then any bling bling could. For example, Zoomph, our social media display and analytics software, is a product born out of MetroStar labs and functions as an internal startup. This internal startup culture allows our team to report directly to our CEO, Ali Manouchehri, giving us the independence and ownership needed to ensure the success of the project. The secret of Zoomph’s continuous success is that while our team was assembled by talent, it is driven by motivation.
Lack of motivation, will equate to lack in production. Do not work with or associate with people that are not motivated, they are anchors, and will drag you down with them. Worst case scenario you find yourself stuck in a situation with an unmotivated individual – find a way to align their interest with yours.
Creative-Thinking Skills:
This one is the wildcard and has the heaviest impact on creative flow – are you able to think outside the box? I mean it sounds pretty obvious right? How can you be creative if you can’t think creatively; but what does that even mean?
To think creatively it requires an imagination and flexibility of one’s thought process while looking for as many possible answers, as opposed to just one. Not a creative thinker? It’s okay you can change that with a little elbow grease.
Here are some ways to help increase your creativity. For starters, let your brain wander, make mistakes, think of anything possible, even the most outrageous-crazy ideas that are impossible will be critical in helping you brain storm. Know yourself, and put yourself in the right mind state to succeed. Some people thrive off pressure, while others shut down. Just find your state of zen and work your magic.
Take Away Point:
Creativity can be influenced by your environment and conditions practiced in your workplace. If managed correctly, you can manipulate your expertise: through experience and learning, motivation: by seeking goals and rewards, and creative-thinking skill set: through discipline and practice.
For more creativity tips, thoughts, questions, or just saw Jurassic Park for the first time and you’re dying to share that with somebody? Tweet me at @Zonozi