- A creativity program to improve your personal creativity might include the following steps:
- 1. Set a measurable goal. Some goals might be:
Generate 10% more solutions within 6 months.
Come up with an original solution for problem "X" within 2 weeks.
Find a new and efffective way to relate to my children so they want to spend more time with me.
Practice generating ideas by brainstorming (for example, "find at least 100 ideas for a new pen").
2. Set up criteria to indicate whether or not you have reached or are reaching your goal, such as:
- The ideas are novel (in that particular context).
- The ideas are useful, they solve the problem or meet the challenge.
- The ideas can be implemented within an appropriate time and budget.
3. Read! Learn creativity techniques. This information can be gathered from books, conferences, other people, software products and the internet.
4. Spend time with people who you believe are creative and ask them how they did it. There are many paths to creativity.
5. Surround yourself with people who love and respect you; people who encourage you to take risks.
6. Celebrate your progress in reaching your creativity goals.
- Finally, begin thinking of yourself as a creative person. Surround that identity with beliefs about your creative abilities. Learn the skills of creativity, act creatively every opportunity you get and find environments that support creative behavior.