{"id":1667,"date":"2017-02-22T14:15:30","date_gmt":"2017-02-22T14:15:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpblog.indigobusiness.co.uk\/?p=1667"},"modified":"2023-10-25T14:52:13","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T14:52:13","slug":"creativity-for-graduates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpblog.indigobusiness.co.uk\/creativity-for-graduates\/","title":{"rendered":"Creativity for graduates"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"rsz_olivia_creativity_video\"<\/a>

Olivia tells us how her creative thinking training has helped her in the workplace.<\/p><\/div>\n

I\u2019m Olivia, you may have read my other blog \u2018The graduate: a day in the life<\/a>\u2019. I was lucky enough to attend two of Edward de Bono\u2019s most popular techniques Edward de Bono\u2019s Six Thinking Hats\u00ae<\/a> and Lateral Thinking™<\/a>. This blog is to tell you how I\u2019ve used, and benefited from, the techniques I learnt.<\/p>\n

Three days of creativity<\/strong><\/p>\n

The workshops I attended were over three days. Initially, I thought this was a lot of time to take out of the office. I was told the two workshops enable anyone in business, not just graduates, to maximise their creative thinking and idea generation. I thought that, having spent four years at university, I\u2019d already know this!<\/p>\n

As a marketing executive, running art exhibitions to attract clients, it is my job to invent creative ways of attracting clients. On a daily basis I\u2019m required to come up with new and exciting artists and themes. The gallery will then invest marketing budget to feature artists, who will then act as brand ambassadors, vouching for our credibility as a company.<\/p>\n

Stopping my creativity in its tracks<\/strong><\/p>\n

Being the self-deprecating type, I have the tendency, as many of us do, to run around in circles when coming up with ideas. When I think of something new which initially seems great, I inevitably end up cancelling out that very same idea with the reasons why it would not work. Before my idea has even learnt to walk I\u2019ve kicked it over and taken its shoes!<\/p>\n

My university experience had taught me how to separate different modes of thinking. I was used to being fairly critical and so I was using my black hat too often. My ideas deserved the time to develop.<\/p>\n

Taking time to think \u2013 my productive strategy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Generating ideas –<\/strong> To start with I select the most useful Lateral Thinking™<\/a> techniques to generate ideas. Resulting in an impressive number of event themes, which evolved into names and personalities for exhibitions.<\/p>\n

Saving time, increasing my productivity –<\/strong> Then I\u2019d move onto the Six Thinking Hats\u00ae<\/a>. Personally, I think this technique is the most valuable for saving time and increasing productivity. Like most of you, I was working to very tight deadlines and didn\u2019t have time to spare on faffing. The Blue Hat, which manages the thinking and the way you use the other hats, was my stand-out tool. I used it to keep myself in check, as a way of managing my time and to keep my \u2018thinking\u2019 sessions short and productive.<\/p>\n

Problem solving\u00a0–<\/strong> I would then move my thinking back to the Lateral Thinking™<\/a> techniques. These would help me to identifying and understanding any problems, so I could deliver a more creative solution. Here\u2019s an example in practice:<\/p>\n