No surprises there. More than ever the pressure is on to come up with new and innovative ideas and solutions. If you don’t...someone else will.
So how do you keep the ideas flowing and keep the creativity bubbling along? Over the next six editions of mice.net we’ll explore a number of ‘creative essentials’. These are things which help the creative process bounce along and help you tap into your own creativity. Such things as having the right creative environment – having clear objectives and tight parameters to work within, and being aware of the assumptions we all make which hinder creative thought. We’ll also take time and look at the `Zen of Creativity’. After all, not everything should be over-analysed. So let’s get started by looking at space.
SPACE
Now there are two types of space – physical and mental.
Physical space (or the physical environment you work in) has a great influence over your emotional state. Just ask anyone who lives in a black box! In terms of creativity, your physical space is enormously important when it comes to getting you into the right creative frame of mind. This is why many organisations are now creating more relaxed and open work environments.
And on a more micro level, simply altering your immediate surroundings can pay big dividends. Maybe it’s as simple as changing your outlook or desk position every so often, or perhaps surrounding yourself with images and items related to a particular project you’re working on. By simply altering our surroundings we alter our headspace. However, sometimes it’s difficult to alter our immediate surroundings. So up the ante and go and work somewhere else. Grab your laptop and go work in a café or head down to the local park. Some of my best ideas have come while working in cafes. It’s probably the caffeine, but the point is - put yourself in a completely different space – physically - which in turn will help put you in a completely different headspace.
Which leads to the second type of space. . . mental space.
If you can’t get into the right mental space it can be very difficult to get the creative juices flowing. Ever stared at a blank computer screen or blank piece of paper?
So to help get you into the zone try these simple exercises. Each is designed to get you out of the blocks and get the creative thoughts flowing. They are purely starting exercises.
Stream of consciousness
Grab a blank piece of paper or blank computer screen and just start writing. Don’t think about it, don’t analyse it, just write. Even if there’s nothing there just write anything and pretty soon you’ll find you’ll slide into the zone.
Word association
Play a word game to get yourself focused. Grab a blank sheet of paper and write a list of any words to do with your project or task. Then, next to each word write the first thing that pops into your head associated with that particular word.
Phone a friend
Throw out a life buoy and bounce ideas off someone. When you’re really stuck just talking it through with a friend or colleague can be really useful and get you going. It may also lead to some fresh ideas.
Now that you’re in the right space, next time we’ll look at the importance of laying down the rules of the game in terms of clear objectives and tight parameters. In fact, the tighter the parameters and clearer the objectives, the easier it is to be creative. Enjoy.
PS: Some Creative Zen: Our creative sides often get blocked because our heads become so full of stuff. So take some time for yourself. Go wander through an art gallery or museum for an hour or two. Try and treat yourself to doing it in the middle of your working day and clear out the cobwebs.
Nigel is author of ‘Think Bits’ and conducts creative thinking workshops. More information can be found at www.thinkbits.com.au. As well as presenting he also runs Nigel Collin Creative, a creative services company.
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