“Creative people do not see things for what they are. They see them for what they can be.” (Julie Israel)
Whether your work place is at home (or in an
office building), have you ever considered how both your talent and creativity
help to make the company profitable? Did you know talent and creativity do not
mean the same thing? A talent is defined as a natural aptitude that someone is born
with (e.g., singing, painting, knitting, or athletic abilities). People often
have to work to refine their talents, but they’re generally innate and genetic
rather than acquired. Creativity is the act of transforming new, innovative ideas into reality.
Language, art, scientific thought and advances in technology are all results of
creative thought.
In the workplace, talent can be identified in
employees with the following qualities:
1.
Natural leader: A natural leader inspires and empowers others by creating a
trusting and encouraging environment in the workplace.
2.
Original thinker: Original
thinkers are solution-oriented, and often offer a different perspective on how
to approach challenges. They maintain a positive attitude. They use their
intelligence and creativity to seek out ways to overcome obstacles, and work
more efficiently and effectively.
3.
Results-oriented: Talented people meet and exceed goals and objectives. They
are results-oriented and serve as a great example to other employees.
4.
Self-motivated: A
self-motivated person takes pride in their work. They don’t need to be
micromanaged. They take personal ownership for their work, and will often go
above and beyond their required duties.
5.
Team player: Team
players possess great communication and interpersonal skills. While they may
bring a high level of skill in their profession to projects, they’re often
sought after because they know how to motivate others and help teammates
collaborate.
In your office, creativity can be recognized
in employees with the following behaviors. (You will notice some these creative
behaviors overlap talented qualities):
·
Challenging
conformity:
Creative people have a strong understanding of the usual processes and norms at
their workplaces, but they can easily recognize when established practices
could benefit from improvement. Their work can provide a fresh perspective on
what is usually accepted as normal in a workplace, allowing room for new
processes that can benefit them and their coworkers.
·
Comfort with ambiguity: Creative people are good at
accepting ambiguous situations in which more than one thing is true, or where the truth is uncertain. When you approach workplace situations
with this type of mindset, it can be easier to look for more than one solution
to a problem. This can allow for more experimentation, leading to innovative
solutions to challenges at your job.
·
High levels of
concentration:
Creative people tend to lose track of time when engaged in the creative
process. They become so concentrated on the task and the progress that they are
making that they can work for hours at a time without realizing it.
·
Independence: While creative people may find inspiration from
working on a team, they often thrive with minimal supervision. They tend to be
independent, work well alone and embrace the skills that may make them
different from their coworkers.
·
Innovative
problem-solving:
When you think creatively, you may find it easier to apply your imagination to
everyday scenarios. This can help you come up with unique solutions to the
challenges you may face at work. Creative minds play with information instead
of just storing it. Instead of simply accepting ideas, they question them,
build on them, and apply them to their lives.
·
Mix of introversion
and extroversion:
Most people tend to be either introverts or extraverts—either strongly
preferring the company of others or time alone—but creative people have a
tendency to display both of these personality traits. They become energized by
social situations, but they also often need time alone to recharge.
·
Openness to criticism: Creative people are emotionally
invested in their work, but they should remain objective when reviewing
everyone’s work (including their own). This means
that they are often open to constructive criticism and view their own work
fairly. They use feedback to improve their ideas and continue to learn.
·
Strong work ethic: As you develop your creativity,
you may become more aware of the effort that goes into being creative. This may
help you take your work seriously and remain realistic about the amount of time
and thought it will take to complete a project. This is a characteristic that
you may find greatly improves over time as you become more comfortable with
your approach to work.
·
Thoroughness and attention to detail: Creative minds tend to value
good preparation, and think about possible solutions to problems from
multiple angles. They think of possible issues they may need to improve before
they put their ideas into practice. When you think creatively, you can become
accustomed to thoroughly planning out your ideas and testing them before
presenting them to your coworkers.
·
Willingness to take
risks:
Many creative thinkers have learned to embrace challenges at work, and aren’t
intimidated by the prospect of failure. By taking risks and trying new ways of
doing things, creative people are able to innovate and see if their ideas work.
This process also allows them to refine their ideas to the point that they can
easily be used on a daily basis at work.
“Caring people help others not because
they expect a reward, but because it’s natural.” [i]People that have talent have this in common.
Most of the time, they want to use what God has given them to bless, and help
others in life. (This attitude of service comes to them automatically.) It
doesn’t take long for creative people to realize the ability they were born
with doesn’t come easily and naturally to everyone as it does for them.
If
at all possible, talented and creative people long to teach others how to
incorporate their gift into others lives (in a positive way). What are you good
at in your life? (Take an intensive look at yourself. No ability is too small.)
How could your passion become a pathway of blessing for someone else?
[i] Quote by SpiritualCleansing.org
Adapted from:
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