Free your mind. It’s time to ‘Be a GameChanger’, it’s time to change the rules. Go beyond the norms. Not much will be gained in terms of innovation, if you live the life of a conformist. Every technology company in the world is striving for and fighting for innovation. In my opinion as a creative professional, i feel there are many ways that can help an organization maximize their output, by focusing on the individuals themselves, and not just on policies, and processes.

The most important aspect in maximizing creativity is the right mindset, the burning desire to innovate, this is more of a intrinsic desire, than a technical or academic qualification. For a ‘Disruptive’ person to be successful, you have to be genuine, one cannot pretend. Why so? Disruption requires over-riding stale ideas, and brings life to a new way of doing things. Disruption is a result of a fight against the status quo, the burning desire to do something new, to go beyond what is already being done. Disruption can occur either at the individual level, or at a group level, later on at a societal level. Disruption and Creativity are interlinked to each other in many ways. To do something that no one else has done. To go beyond the scope, to reach where few dare to go. An Employee’s extra-curricular activities have a great impact on their work output. What they do outside their work time effects their creativity and innovation, especially their social circle.

Creativity is a multidisciplinary and multifaceted. I believe almost all professions can be practiced in a creative manner. A management professional’s view of creativity will be differ from a software developer’s view, and likewise a designer’s view of creativity differs from a entrepreneur’s view. I feel that on a corporate level, creativity is what makes innovation via new ideas possible.

The factors that can enhance or increase creativity, the ‘Drivers’ can be split up categorically into Personal and Environmental (Internal or External.) Likewise ‘Inhibitors’ or the factors that reduce creativity are also categorised in the same manner.

Drivers of Creativity

A. Personal Characteristics (Internal)

The personal characteristics that enhance creativity are in-depth knowledge of aesthetics, having a broad range of interests, curios by natural disposition, a helping nature by heart, an urge to discover something new, attraction to complexity and difficult to understand topics, a love for independent thinking, not afraid of new places/situations, intrinsic motivation, solution-oriented mindset, and an ability to look at things and situations from different perspectives.

B. Environmental Characteristics (External)

Societal norms and values, academic institutions such as schools, and universities, religious beliefs, role models, and peers all play a very important role in maximising and developing creativity. Rigidity in beliefs reduces creativity. Since i believe we are made from clay, being rigid breaks creativity, adapting to a situation in a clay-like manner enhances creativity. In a corporate context, brainstorming, analytical thinking, appropriate resourcing, encouragement and reward from management plus rules and regulations that do not punish experimentative/explorative individuals. Thus maximising creativity, and driving innovation. Encouragement and financial rewards for original ideas can also be drivers for creativity for many.

Moving on to the Inhibitors of Creativity. This kind of Sucks!

Inhibitors of Creativity

C. Personal Charecteristics (Internal)

A fear of failure or criticism, living in strict boundaries, a lack of time(creative ideas can sometimes need time to incubate and develop), a lack of feedback, a tendency to live within the rules and follow orders blindly (robotic kind of mentality.) A lack of recognition or appreciation (decreases morale) Living a lifestyle that is resistant to change, the kind of people that live as conformists.

D. Environmental Characteristics (External)

A population that is un-inquisitive or not curious by nature. An academic curriculum or educational setting in which an individual is unable to question foundational beliefs, or assumptions. A place where questioning or curiosity is frowned upon by people who hold power reduces creativity.

The Down Side of Creativity 

E. Stigma and Consequences (Negative Manifestations)

While creativity is most valued for problem solving and enhancing value through innovative ideas, it has it’s own costs to individual and society at large. Creative people when under stress may display eccentric or unexplainable behavior, deviating from their usual character. This can be very difficult to understand by a non-creative, and have disastrous consequences from law enforcement and authority figures. Since creative people spend a lot of time thinking and pondering basic fundamentals they can suffer from stress, and blame themselves if something is not working well, and end up confused. In many ways creativity can become counter-productive if a person is not extra careful and able to control himself and his actions, or is unable to channel his creativity in a positive manner.