5. CREATIVITY TUTORIAL
POSITIVE CORE IMMERSION ABSTRACTS
[1] CREATING EXCELLENCE IN ORGANIZATIONS
1) An Overview
(1) Foundation skills = INSIGHT (strategic thinking) + SENSITIVITY (culture building)
(2) Adaptive skills = VERSATILITY (strategic thinking) + FOCUS (culture building)
(3) Integrative skills = VISION (strategic thinking) + PATIENCE (culture building)
2) Becoming a "STRATEGIC THINKER" --- Strategic thinking viewpoints
(1) Satisfying customer needs!
(2) Sustaining competitive advantage
(3) Capitalizing on organizational strengths
3) Becoming a "CULTURE BUILDER" --- Culture Awareness Checklist
(1) Commitment to a common purpose!
(2) Competence to deliver superior performance!
(3) Consistency in perpetuating commitment and competence
Book Source: (Creating Excellence)
[2] BUILD YOUR OWN GARAGE ---
BLUEPRINTS AND TOOLS TO UNLEASH YOUR COMPANY'S HIDDEN CREATIVITY
Book Source: (Build Your Own Garage!)
[3] SPARKS OF CREATIVITY --- USING ANALOGIES
You can learn the "tools of the trade" and thereby improve your "intellection" or creative thinking! This process, however, requires you to "rethink" what your creative thinking is all about. And rethinking shifts your educational focus from WHAT to think to HOW to think in the most productive ways possible.
Analogizing lies at the center of human thinking, at what it means to think creatively!
It is possible for simple analogies to help you learn complex concepts. The critical part of interesting analogies is that they reveal not mere resemblances but inapparent relationships between abstract functions. One of the ideas is understood, the other is not!
In some cases, useful analogies are inexact --- but still very helpful in seeing new relationships among things!
Book Source: (Sparks of Genius
[4] WORKING IDENTITY ---
UNCONVENTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR REINVENTING YOUR CAREER
Book Source: (Working Identity)
[5] THE ACHIEVEMENT CHALLENGE --- HOW TO BE A 10 IN BUSINESS
Book Source: (Achievement Challenge)
[6] SKILLED HELPING
1) Requirements for creativity in helpers and clients
2) Requirements for creativity in "librarians"
(1) Optimism and confidence
(2) Acceptance of ambiguity and uncertainty
(3) A wide range of interests
(4) Flexibility
(5) Tolerance of complexity
(6) Verbal fluency
(7) Curiosity
(8) Drive and persistance
(9) Independence
(10) Nonconformity or "reasonable risk taking"
3) Primary deterents to creativity and innovation
(1) Fear
(2) Fixed habits
(3) Dependence on authority
(4) Perfectionism
Therefore, imagination and creativity are most useful at this point of Stage 3, but it is another thing to help clients stimulate their own creative potential!
Book Source: (Skilled Helper)
[7] SELF MATTERS --- CREATING YOUR LIFE FROM THE INSIDE OUT
What are your ten most defining moments?
(1) List your defining moments --- then describe each defining moment in one brief paragraph.
(2) For each defining moment, identify the "before" and the "after" in your self-concept.
(3) Write a paragraph to describe the long-term residual effect of that defining moment.
(4) Write down how and why you think the defining moment either clarified or distorted
your authentic self.
(5) Review your interpretation of and reaction to the defining moment. Decide whether or not you believe
your interpretation was and is acurate or inaccurate.
(6) Write down whether this is something that you think you should keep or refect with regard to your concept
of self. Include one paragraph as to why.
(7) Reviewing these defining moments as a whole, what has been the bottom-line effect on your concept of
self, having lived through them?
Remember, you are in control. You are the manager of your own life!
Book Source: (Self-Matters)
[8] DOUBLE YOUR CREATIVE THINKING ABILITY
1) You can double your "thinking power" by using the "instant thinking"
three step technique:
(1) Thinking "logically"
(2) Thinking "inductively"
(3) Thinking "deductively"
2) If you apply ALL SIX MODES of thinking to solving your problems, you can sextuple
your brain power by thinking about your problems from each of the following six
viewpoints:
(1) Thinking OBJECTIVELY --- this way of thinking logically scrutinezes ALL facts,
figures, and other objective information available about your situation
(2) Thinking CRITICALLY --- this way of thinking examines a situation carefully, looking for
every possible problem, downside, drawback, and negative consequence that could be associated with
your situation
(3) Thinking POSITIVELY --- this way of thinking views a situation from a positive viewpoint and
searches ONLY for possibilities, solutions, opportunities, pluses, and benefits
(4) Thinking CREATIVELY --- thinking creatively projects creative solutions, combinations, and
ideas that might better your situation
(5) Thinking INTUITIVELY --- thinking intuitively tries to tune in with the DEEPER REACTIONS to a
situation such as your "gut feelings," the language of the heart, emotional nuances, hunches, and any other
signals from your unsconscious
(6) Thinking about ALL SIX MODES OF THINKING --- thinking about the "modes of
thinking" monitors your own thinking and feeling about a situation and how they might color,
distort, or affect your THINKING about that situation!
3) Also, you can use the "nine maxims" of creative thinking to maximize your
THINKING POWER!
(1) Get ALL the data --- BEFORE you decide on an answer!
Before you can generate a valid solution or a new approach or a theory, drop ALL preconceptions and
first gather ALL the data you possibly can. Without these data, you will NOT have the mental
capacity to develop your thinking process, and your preconceptions can prevent you from seeing
important facts and relationships!
(2) Classify --- and invent new classifications!
Creating your own categories and classifications helps you SEE connections! This leads you to make generalizations about the relevant things you are concentrating on.
(3) Generalize --- generalize --- generalize!
Generalizations help you generate new insights, ideas, and solutions. There significance is that they set
you thinking! At this stage it is NOT so important whether you are right or wrong.
(4) Explain --- explain --- explain!
You truly "know" something ONLY when you understand it! And you understand it
ONLY when you can explain it to yourself in your own words. When you try to explain a situation
or a dilemma, the process of thinking itself "hot-wires" your mind and gets your thinking
process working.
(5) Look for what you do not understand!
Pretend you do NOT understand anything and question everything. Look for things that don't make
sense to you since the key to thinking is paying attention to what you do NOT understand, namely, the
anomalies of life.
(6) Apply what you have learned before!
Often unrelated things you already know will help spark insights and inspirations!
(7) Reject the "standard" wisdom!
Question current explanations since they might be limiting your awareness!
(8) Let your thoughts wander!
Daydreaming and mind wandering can result in fresh insights and solutions! Flitting from thought to
thought is still thinking.
(9) Give yourself permission to fail!
The path to success is littered with failure! Expect to fail, embrace failure, welcome failure!
Consider each idea that does NOT work to be a step that carries you closer to the answer you are seeking.
This assumption will give you the FREEDOM to take a chance since you will NOT hold back for FEAR of FAILING!
Book Source: (Double Your Brain Power)
[9] AUTHENTIC HAPPINESS AT WORK
Meaning and purpose:
The "good life" consists in deriving happiness by using your "signature strengths" every day in the main realms of living. The "meaningful life" adds one more component, namely, using these same strengths to forward knowledge, power or goodness!
A life that does this is pregnant with meaning. If you believe in science and democracy and worship "life itself," your life is sacred and can be filled with happiness!
Book Source: (Authentic Happiness)
[10] OVERCOMING ANXIETY --- EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS
This book on "life management" explains how you can understand and manage anxious feelings.
If you feel a sense of anxiety about your job, you can get a clearer understanding about your uncomfortable
feelings and physical symptoms.
You can learn effective techniques to help you cope better. You can manage your time well enough to practice and master the techniques for yourself, then the ideas will help you overcome unnecessary anxiety and make your life better and your work more satisfying.
You can learn these skills and techniques NOW!
1) Four-step process
2) Relaxed diaphramatic breathing
3) Slow breathing
4) Progressive relaxation
5) Focus
6) Fantasy
7) Counting backward
8) Balanced diet
9) Exercise
10) Anxiety record
11) Cognitive system "malfunction checklist"
12) "Three-column" technique
13) "Reframing"
To overcome your anxiety about being physically or emotionally vulnerable, you can
"clear your mind."
You do this by changing your cognitive set.
"Reframing" is a specific form of "rebuttal" to your congnitive set.
Your "cognitive set" is revealed by the thoughts and images you have.
It can be changed by "reframing" or changing your thoughts and images.
"Reframing" is a conscious mental way of choosing where to put the "frame" on the panorama that is your life!
Since you can't encompass all of it in the frame, you must pick that part which you choose to
"focus" on!
Where you focus determines your perceptions and your "cognitive set."
You can practice reframing your "cognitive set" by choosing an overall picture of something you feel anxious about and describing it in writing. Then make a written description of your current frame and a written description of your "reframed" or changed outlook about the problem!
14) Challenge yourself
15) Automatic "thought log"
16) Take another point of view
17) So what?
18) "Turn off" technique
19) Repetition
20) Time projection
21) TV set (p65)
22) Coping "self-statements"
23) Redirection
24) Breathers
25)Relaxation
26) Play
27) Humor
28) Spiritual and emotional support
29) Traditions and routines
Book Source: (Overcoming Anxiety)
[11] AHA! --- WAYS TO FREE YOUR CREATIVE SPIRIT!
1) Ten ways to free your creative spirit
Strategy (1) Connect with people
Strategy (2) Design an enriching environment
Strategy (3) Get out of your "box" through travel
Strategy (4) Be sparked by play and humor
Strategy 5) Expand your mind through reading
Strategy (6) Take up the arts
Strategy (7) Plug into technology
Strategy (8) "Power think" your challenges
Strategy (9) Release your "alterconscious"
Strategy (10) Connect with your "creative soul"
2) Creative thinking techniques:
(1) Brainstorming to facilitate group strategizing:
1. Collective confidence
2. Divergent thinking
3. Collective "associative thinking" = "triggering" ideas
4. Delayed judgment
(2) Transformative thinking
(3) Forced connections
(4) Think "As-If"
(5) GNP thinking
(6) Mindmapping --- Mindmapping is a visual writing and note-taking process that helps you break through creative dry spells. It was developed by the creativity expert Tony Buzan. It is related to the traditional outlining, but it is a much more powerful tool.
Rather than jotting down your ideas in a neat, sequential fashion, as you do when
making a classical outline --- Roman numerals I, II, III, and so on --- mindmapping encourages
you to put your ideas and information into visual patterns reflecting the interrelationships
among the topics.
(7) Power "Journaling"
(8) "Role playing"
3) Seven steps to turning your ideas into creative opportunities
(1) Step 1 --- Translating the idea into a goal
(2) Step 2 --- Thinking "As-If"
(3) Step 3 --- Selling your ideas
(4) Step 4 --- Making your pitch
(5) Step 5 --- Handling objections
(6) Step 6 --- Getting commitment
(7) Step 7 --- Overcoming discouragement and becoming an innovator
Book Source: (AHA! ---- Ten Ways to Free Your Creative Spirit)
[12] DESIGN YOURSELF!
Book Source: (Design Yourself!)
[13] YOU CAN'T AFFORD THE LUXURY OF A NEGATIVE THOUGHT ---
A BOOK FOR PEOPLE WITH ANY LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS --- INCLUDING LIFE!
Book Source: (You Can't Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought)
[14] CREATIVE WHACK ON THE SIDE OF THE HEAD
Book Source: (Whack on the Side of the Head)
[15] BEATING JOB BURNOUT --- OVERCOME FRUSTRATION AT WORK
Book Source: (Beating Job Burnout)
[16] FISH TALES --- REAL-LIFE STORIES
TO HELP YOU TRANSFORM YOUR WORKPLACE AND YOUR LIFE
Book Source: (Fish Tales)
[17] ABOLISHING PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS ---
WHY THEY BACKFIRE WHAT TO DO INSTEAD
Book Source: (Abolishing Performance Appraisals)
Return to: Creativity Issue --- Resource List
Return to: Leadership Control Essay
Return to: Home Page Index