If you enter a kindergarten you will encounter some of the best creative thinking anywhere: finger paintings with pink and green people and blue dogs and polka-dot skies, imaginative stories of fairies and magical, far-away places. Young children are naturally creative. They must create ways to learn and construct a world view from a collection of initially disconnected events, colours, movement and sound. So what happens between the open, effortless experimentation of our childhood and the blocks in creative thinking experienced by many adults? (Tania de Jong AM of Creativity Australia has more).
One of the challenges businesses face today is overcoming the barriers to stimulating creativity and innovation. These barriers are ever present. We live in a world where computers, the internet, image and celebrities take us further away from connecting with one another meaningfully. We are in danger of becoming a society where alienation, disengagement and self centeredness are entrenched. We need to create opportunities for individuals and communities to connect with one another in new and meaningful ways.
Therefore it is critical to find creative and innovative ways to bring people together, to build resilience and social capital during these highly uncertain times. Doing so can develop stronger communication and problem solving skills, and thereby foster sustainable levels of motivation and wellbeing at a personal and organisational level. This will in turn lead to greater levels of engagement, innovation and productivity in organisations, and an enhanced ability to make a contribution to our society rather than just focusing on profits.
One way of improving our world is to help people learn how to think and act differently. We believe creativity offers the answers to many of the big issues we face in these unprecedented times, because it can help unlock our full human potential.
Yet in many organizations there is no clear avenue for developing personal creativity or for nurturing ideas. In fact, those with the ideas are often ignored or stifled, so that eventually their voices and ideas fall silent. However in the face of competitive and economic pressures, many organisations are convinced that creativity and innovation are the keys to success.
There is significant international research about the enormous benefits of creative participation for wellbeing, self esteem, connection to others, increased brain function and much more. Unlocking creative potential will not only help people’s sense of self esteem, connection and wellbeing but will lead to outcomes including meaningful and creative leadership, greater innovation, a sense of connection and increased productivity. There is a yearning to align life purpose with work to make it meaningful and work is meaningful when all of our self is being engaged and challenged, including our creativity.
For further information please visit www.creativityaustralia.org.au
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