One of the most desired traits that improves results in almost any role is the ability to be creative. Creativity is important from birth through all stages of life. It plays a role in living, problem-solving, and in playing.
The idea of creativity is a very complex topic with a lot of different opinions. Regardless of the type of creativity someone possesses, there are two factors within the four creativity types that you should be aware of. Every single type of creativity must include originality and functionality. This merely means that the idea must be unique, and it also must work. Energetic and intelligent people have the discipline to work toward creativity rather than wait for it to happen spontaneously.
Let's look at a few different types of creativity to help explain the concept of creativity.
1. Deliberate and Cognitive
People who have deliberate creative characteristics tend to have a lot of knowledge about a topic, which enables them to create actionable steps to get something done. They are good at research, problem-solving, and investigation. They make great scientists who like to do experiments to discover new facts.
2. Deliberate and Emotional
Often, sensitive and emotional people like to have quiet time to reflect on the choices they need to make or the problems they want to solve. They tend to be logical in decision making, but they lead with their emotions first. They tend to experience a lot of exciting "aha" moments that they like to go with. They can get distracted when emotions are low and need alone time to focus their mind.
3. Spontaneous and Cognitive
Another type of person who often acts on the "aha" moment is the person who has spontaneous and cognitive creativity. This type of creativity happens when the conscious mind stops working. It requires the ability to relax and think, and then act right away on the thinking. This type of person needs a lot of alone time as well as easy access to the right tools.
4. Spontaneous and Emotional
Artists, musicians, painters, and writers often experience epiphanies as they do their work. They find scientific breakthroughs, discover new religious ideas, and develop philosophical arguments during these moments. Some writers also call this "flow." It's that time when you're working on something, and it just starts coming naturally without much effort.
Regardless of the type of creativity you have, your workers have, or your students have, you can work with all types by remembering that people express creativity in different ways. Creativity is not all about art. It can be about living life, exploring the scientific world, and so much more. You don't have to allow any definitions to hold you back from bringing more creativity into your life and the lives around you.