Due to the monotony of everyday life and the frequent stress associated with living in the modern world, many people often struggle to get into a creative free space or just think creatively in general. This is bad news for people in the business world, as the ability to think creatively is essential to the problem solving and innovation needed to succeed as an entrepreneur.
So what can be done to improve your ability to think creatively? The members of Council for Young Entrepreneurs have a few recommendations. Below, they share eight actions a person can take now to improve their creative thinking skills over time and explain why taking these steps is so effective in achieving the intended results.
Members pictured from left to right.
Photos courtesy of the individual members.
1. Diary by hand
Journaling tends to work, but you have to do it by hand. Numerous studies have proven that the movement of a hand moving across paper sparks your creativity. Write something. Drawing. Be free. There are no mistakes in this space. Write questions to yourself about your problems and then outline some answers. You’ll be amazed at what appears on the page when you’re done. The more you do this, the better you get at it. Have fun mixing different colors if that helps you. It gives you a way to move forward, and this is very important if you feel like you are in the swamp of inaction. Plus, you learn that this process is actually a lot of fun. Creativity in itself should be fun. Writing and scribbling by hand can help you with that. – Tyler Bray, TK Trailer Parts
2. Immerse yourself in new experiences
One action one can take now to improve their creative thinking skills over time is to try new experiences. This exposes you to new perspectives, ways of thinking, and ways of solving problems, all of which can serve as inspiration for your creative thinking. I recommend traveling, reading a new genre, or even exploring your neighborhood. This helps to broaden your perspective and expose you to new ways of thinking, which can inspire new ideas and approaches. Plus, trying new things increases your knowledge and experience, which can also help you think more creatively. I like to walk outside, so I often change my running routes. This gives me different landscapes, steeper hills and different trees. All those elements stimulate my creative thinking. – Renato Agrella, Acera Consulting
3. Read books outside of your comfort zone
One action a person can take now to improve their creative thinking skills over time is to read books that are outside their comfort zone. It’s important to read books that challenge your perspective and push you to think in new ways rather than just reinforce what you already know. So try to read items from different genres be it history, art, business or anything else. You will be surprised how much you can learn. Moreover, you never know where your new knowledge will come in handy. Creativity comes from combining different things, so let reading different things help you get into a more innovative mind space. – Blair Williams, MemberPress
4. Participate in brainstorming sessions
One of the best ways to improve creative thinking skills over time is to participate in brainstorming sessions. When you participate in a brainstorming session, you are not only communicating with others or listening to their ideas, you are also learning from their experiences. This refines your thought process as you learn that there are different ways of perceiving things and different solutions to a problem. This is extremely effective as it allows you to think outside the box and consider different possibilities. Over time, it becomes easier for you to tap into the creative zone because your thoughts are not limited by linear thinking. – Stephanie Wells, Formidable shapes
5. Join a Mastermind group
Start improving your creative thinking skills by joining a mastermind group. A mastermind group is a group of like-minded individuals who meet regularly to exchange ideas, provide support, and hold each other accountable. Being part of a group like this can expose you to new perspectives and ideas, which can help spark your own creativity. Personally, I’ve been part of a mastermind group for years and it’s been a breakthrough for my creative thinking skills. The group consists of people from different backgrounds and sectors, and it is always interesting to hear their take on a specific problem or idea. It has helped me think outside the box and come up with new and innovative solutions for my business. – Abhijeet Kaldate, Astra WordPress theme
6. Learn something new
Learn something new every day, be it technical or interpersonal. Creative minds are always looking for new knowledge and ways to improve their skills. They understand that they need to constantly challenge themselves and learn new things to get their creative juices flowing. This could come from taking a class, learning a new skill, or even just reading about a new topic. Exposing themselves to new information and experiences allows them to broaden their perspectives and think in new ways. Gaining new knowledge and skills can open up new perspectives and ways of thinking. In addition, learning new things can also help overcome mental blocks and limitations that may have hindered their creativity. It can also open up new opportunities and possibilities. – Kelly Richardson, Infobrandz
7. Ask more questions
One way you can dramatically improve your creative thinking skills is by asking “why,” “what,” and “how” questions on a regular basis. For example, when we create a new landing page, I go through a series of questions in my head. “Why are we making this page?” “What do I want readers to take away?” “How can I make our message as clear as possible?” Asking questions helps you connect thoughts and ideas, which is essential for creative thinking. With some practice, you can reference and use these mental links and exercises as you work on future projects, presentations, and assignments. – Chris Christopher, Monster Insights
8. Look for new perspectives
Actively seeking new, diverse perspectives is an action one can take to develop one’s capacity for creative thinking. This can be achieved by exposing yourself to different cultures, disciplines and industries through reading, traveling or even attending industry events or networking events. By actively seeking new perspectives and ideas, one can broaden one’s mental horizons, gain new insights, and improve one’s ability to think creatively. This strategy works well because it helps break existing thought patterns and allows for the development of fresh, original ideas by encouraging one to see the world from new perspectives. – John Rampton, Calendar
