|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I've got a confession to make... there are many ways leaders can be more creative, innovative and ingenious than are presented in this article.
It does not matter if you desire to be a marketing, entrepreneurial or organizational leader, you do have to use your creativity to be successful.
Most leaders have trouble discovering new opportunities, generating good ideas and promoting innovative solutions. In the game of creativity, you need both quality and quantity to win the prize.
I'll show you how to use 3 simple ways to boost the number, power and value of your ideas. All you need to do is learn them, practice them and make them the most used tools in your personal leadership-toolkit.
Create It This Way! Map It Out, Map It All!
Want a way out of that mental block or trap? Don't look for some guidebook, create yourself a map and follow it out of your troubles instead.
How do you draw a map to find new ideas, opportunities or create inventions? It's easy, all you need is a place to start! And like Dorothy learned in the Land of Oz, you always begin at the beginning.
Do you have a problem you're trying to solve? Do you have an unmet need? Do you want to search for something? Do you suspect something is missing or something is out of place or something is more than what is needed?
Use those questions to define your map's point of origin. Place that starting point in the center of the paper and then draw lines to any related problems or missing items.
Once you identify your problems, needs, missing pieces or suspicions and connect them in some logical order [by putting your worse problems at the bottom of the page and easier ones on the top] - then you can do the following:
=> List possible ways to find solutions
=> Draw lines to groups or people who can help you solve the problem
=> Use different shapes to show problems, solutions and key people or tools
=> Color your problems and their related solutions with the same colors [use red for the main problem and its solution, but use green for another problem and its solution]
=> Include push pins, sticky notes, stars or artwork when possible to add vitality, depth and substance to your map
Create It That Way! Ask and Answer It Quickly!
1) What is the situation, what is happening or going on here?
2) What are the problems, difficulties or challenges?
3) How do those problems impact, affect or influence the situation?
4) What good will the solutions to those problems need to do, provide or fix?
Ask those 4 questions and always ask 'why' at least 5 times for each answer and you will find tons of beneficial solutions.
Create It Anyway! Bend It, Shape It, Anyway You Want It!
So you tried mapping, drawing, picturing and asking or answering it and you still aren't getting any great ideas, are you?
Well here are some last chances for you - just re-arrange it, combine it with its own or different parts, mix-it-all-around, shuffle it, remove parts of it, throw it at the walls, step into the middle of it, step away from it, turn it upside down or inside out or round and round, talk about it with others or even yourself, meditate on and pray about it.
Whatever you do, do not let it just sit there without making some effort to move it or yourself.
------------------------------------------------------------
Even though these seem a bit lightweight, they are the most powerful ways known to mankind for solving problems, finding ideas and opportunities and for creating useful inventions.
When you use these techniques, you will be employing the secrets of history's greatest inventive minds like Edison, Newton, Copernicus, Jesus Christ, Marie Curie, Franklin and Einstein.
You can do this, it takes only a few moments a day to master them and then you will find yourself lighting-up the world with your bright and valuable ideas.
Necessity is and always will be the Mother of invention. Make your Momma proud by using these methods whenever you have the need to bring meaningful contributions to our lives!
Copyright © 2004, Mustard Seed Investments Inc.,
All rights reserved.
------------------------------------------------------------
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bill Thomas publishes "Your Leadership UltraNet!" - a Hands-On, Affordable, Performance Improvement Program, featuring web-based ULTRA-Powerful Training courses, coaching & mentoring support plus follow-ups GUARANTEED to energize, empower, enhance your leadership results. All-the-Tools-You-Need-to-Lead-&-Succeed!
http://www.leadership-toolkit.com/skills.html a>
------------------------------------------------------------
Can anyone be an artist? People admiring my work... Read More
Creativity is central to the management of our individual lives,... Read More
Do you ever encounter problems, challenges or obstacles in your... Read More
When you hear, "tell me a story," does your mind... Read More
As workplaces continue to rightsize and downsize, we all find... Read More
It seems like this week a ton of people have... Read More
When stressed or blocked it is wise to make a... Read More
In 1420, the dignitaries of Florence held a competition.They offered... Read More
1 - Take A Tour of the Great Outdoors Consider... Read More
95 percent of what we know about the brain, we... Read More
When solving problems after you have exhausted the normal means... Read More
I've got a confession to make... there are many ways... Read More
I believe that as solo-entrepreneurs, business owners, and executives we... Read More
Deadlines are something all of us face from time to... Read More
I have a friend who has struggled with her creativity... Read More
The ability to exercise your creativity is even more important... Read More
This quick course in creativity is designed to give you... Read More
Have you ever thought of this? When you were young... Read More
Time is the great equalizer. Everybody has the exact same... Read More
Do you consider yourself creative? How about super creative? Most... Read More
If your to-do list seems as long at the end... Read More
Spring is in full bloom, which means it's 'get back... Read More
Did you know that winning actually puts less wear and... Read More
When you think about the legacies Walt Disney left us,... Read More
Worried you may not be creative or you may not... Read More
I have a friend who has struggled with her creativity... Read More
In my life, sleep is the number one way that... Read More
In 1420, the dignitaries of Florence held a competition.They offered... Read More
What is creativity anyway? Well, let us look at the... Read More
I have been struck recently by a number of questions... Read More
There are many creative problem solving techniques used by inventors... Read More
We all use tools in our work, and all of... Read More
We had a winter storm the other day here in... Read More
Do you ever encounter problems, challenges or obstacles in your... Read More
In 1420, the dignitaries of Florence held a competition.They offered... Read More
Creativity ? according to Webster's it means having the ability... Read More
All wealth is a product of mind. Some economists will... Read More
After studying scores of great thinkers like Leonardo Da Vinci,... Read More
Who do you know who is feeling stuck, under-performing, or... Read More
The key to making time for art is the ability... Read More
Can anyone be an artist? People admiring my work... Read More
Do you consider yourself creative? How about super creative? Most... Read More
Everyone's a poet.Of course, everyone's a critic, too! This means... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
In my "Roadblocks to Creativity" e-course, I ask the question:"What's... Read More
Keeping a journal is a form of creative expression that... Read More
I don't take notes anymore. Instead, I create one wildly... Read More
"True Power" is a series that will focus on proven... Read More
Once you are ready to start working again you will... Read More
* Sylvia Plath teaches a valuable lesson about the Even... Read More
Creativity Creativity |