Beyond IQ: Creativity Quotients

Creativity is considered the most desired leadership skill of the future. Even though it is a paramount “21st century” skill, creativity is difficult to preserve as one moves out of childhood and into adulthood. It’s also difficult to measure (as compared to IQ). 

Those who study creativity often explore it in two different categories. 

Little “c” creativity defined: personal tasks that are creatively fulfilling (art, music, experiments)

Large “C” Creativity defined: Something original and useful for the human race (includes the arts and beyond). Typically involves collaboration, emotional engagement, problem-solving, divergent thinking, and purposefully applied constraints.

Benefits to increasing both little “c” and big “C” creativity include:

• Better relationships

• Handling stress and overcoming obstacles

• Being less prone to depression

• Motivation, engagement, openness

Proven ways to increase creativity:

• Practice divergent thinking activities with no “right” answer

• Combine new information with old ideas and old information with new ideas

• Combine mediums (music with painting, oceans with math, birds with maps)

• Place constraints on your next project (color scheme, themes, haikus, only 5 ingredients, etc.)

• Collaborate with someone on a story, song, or project

• Use devices wisely and avoid constant switching of tabs, websites, videos, songs, etc. (stick with something long enough to experience it fully). Also, use technology as a tool for connection and creativity on designated sites.

• Spend time alone and reflect on deep questions without interruption

• Play music or learn to appreciate it (Einstein loved the violin)

• Paracosm - Invent your own universe. Add or subtract from it each day. What are the rules? What are the laws? What are the lifeforms? It’s all yours!!

• Role-play being someone else (in a story, in a play, in your house - wherever)!

• Learn from kids younger than you

• Learn from messy creative people and comedians (I’m not kidding - comedy combines some of the highest levels of creative thinking)

Optional Journal Questions:

1. Do you consider yourself a creative person? Why or why not?

2. When you look at the tips for increasing creativity, do any of them come naturally to you? Do any of them sound absurd and not match your personality?

3. Would you rather be the best or be unique? Why?

4. Who is the most creative adult you know? Do you they have any “childlike” qualities? 

Optional Activity: Students had fun going through this information as if it were a "Public Service Announcement" for creativity. If students wish to take this idea further by creating a poster, video, or "ad" of their own, it's totally welcome and would be really fun! I'd love to see what they come up with on Project Sharing Monday.

Optional video exploring the endless creative ideas present in music.

Take care and have a great week.