Some of us often ask ourselves why we’re creatively awkward. What is it that they have, that we don’t? This article explains that there are five characteristics that reflect the differences between the way people act.
- Openness
- Conscientiousness
- Extraversion
- Agreeableness
- Neuroticism
Openness to Experience is the first characteristic identified as a necessity for creativity. This is the degree to which a person is willing to experience something new or consider new ideas and opportunities. Some people enjoy the excitement of doing something new, but others tend to shy away from these experiences and keep with familiar ideas and activities.
Being creative requires you to do something that has not been done before, or to do something in a way it hasn’t been done before. If you’re not willing to try something new, it’s hard to be creative.
Similarly being creative requires you to have knowledge about the area you’re working in. To do something new in any area, you need to have a knowledge on how things work within it. On the flip side, you have to also know how things work in the areas similar to the study you’re working in. This way you can gap the space between the two to create something truly unique. An example of this was done by Pablo Picasso who merged Western art techniques with elements of African art leading to the development of cubism.
In order to have a deep knowledge requires discipline but to have knowledge of a wide variety of areas requires someone who enjoys thinking. Some people are driven to think about topics deeply while others tend to avoid situations that require them to think too much. People who are high in Need for Cognition routinely spend time and effort learning new things simply because they enjoy the process of learning.
The combination of these two characteristics is powerful. People who have both of them develop the habit to learn about a wide range of topics. They engage in conversations about new subjects and ask a lot of questions to be sure they understand.
These folks are called expert generalists. They use the knowledge they acquire to suggest new ways to look at problems.
If you don’t feel like you have both of these characteristics, or either of them, you can still develop habits to help you be more creative. If you tend to resist new ideas take baby steps that can help you realize the value in new experiences. Work to open yourself up to new opportunities. If you are the kind of person who avoids thinking, add a little time to your day where you specifically focus on learning something new. The more you broaden and deepen your knowledge, the more opportunities you will have to be creative.
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