“Being creative is seeing the same thing as everybody else, but thinking of something different.” (Albert Einstein)
I love being a creative individual. Where
some people are intimidated by a blank Microsoft Word document on their
computer, actually excites me with all the possibilities. I often have to
remind myself that my writing ability, which comes so easily to me, is not a
talent that my friends and family share. I don’t thank God often enough for all
the talents (and abilities) that make me who I am. What about you?
Did you know that creativity allows certain
people to be able to produce new (or innovative) ideas, and then bring them
into existence? Creative people can look at an existing problem, and ask
questions to develop various solutions. Here are twelve traits that most creative
people possess and use in their daily lives. How can you incorporate these
qualities into your own life (as you become more creative)?
Ambitious: Creative people
often have an awareness of how much effort goes into their work. They
understand that the perfect solution does not always come easily, so they must
put in the work toward achieving it. When creative people have a passion for
something, they will visualize their goals and commit themselves to attain
them. These goals can vary, whether they include completing a task or
practicing an activity until they become skilled at it.
Despite their
flexibility and openness in other areas, this awareness sometimes requires them
to take a more disciplined approach. For example, someone who wants to write a
book may develop a writing routine for themselves. By committing to writing 500
words a day, they keep their skills active and may improve them. Breaking large
tasks into smaller, more attainable pieces and incorporating them into a
consistent routine can make complex processes more manageable.
Curious: Creative people enjoy learning new things so their free time may include reading books or watching videos about topics they find interesting. They often find it exciting or satisfying to take on the task of understanding concepts with which they do not already have familiarity. Creative people may seek opportunities to learn new skills for personal reasons or to perform better. They bring this curiosity to their work, often by asking questions.
For example, a creative person might
try to create innovative product ideas by asking, "Why?" They might
say, "Why do we not sell a product that does this?" If someone tells
them they cannot do something, they ask, "Why not?" Some may start a
discussion by asking, "What if?" These questions aim to create
discussions around an idea and allow for experimentation. This approach can
also serve as a brainstorming technique where the group tries to figure out
ways to make something intangible or impossible into a reality.
Energetic: Creative people may
often be energetic—this does not mean they appear hyperactive, but they put a
lot of energy into their work. They often feel passionate about tasks and show
their enthusiasm when performing them. When creative people put their full
energy into something, it can lead them to focus on it for hours until they
complete it. However, they always bring their passion, so the work does not
necessarily feel like work.
Instead, they may
gain enjoyment or satisfaction from their experiences. This trait creates
benefits for team members, as the creative person's high energy can often transfer
to their colleagues. For example, when a team is beginning the brainstorming
process, having an individual who starts the session with enthusiasm and builds
excitement around the process can make the other participants more eager to
participate.
Flexible: Similar to
open-mindedness, creative people often have a strong sense of flexibility. This
trait supports their willingness to try new ideas and experiences. People with
a strong sense of flexibility also feel more comfortable adapting to change.
For example, they may find it easier to adjust their processes when they must switch
from one using software to another or working with a new set of team members.
Flexibility also
enables a creative person to change their minds about ideas, which makes them
more willing to admit when they are wrong. For example, even if a creative person
initially dislikes a colleague's idea for conducting a work process, they are
willing to listen to the reasoning behind it. Once they hear the other person's
perspective, they may realize that they did not fully understand the idea
initially and now can admit they were wrong. Creative people accept their
mistakes because they see them as a chance to learn something new and grow from
them.
Independent: Working
independently allows creative people to embrace their personal freedom. They
can make their own decisions on how to do things, without instruction or
demands from others. Often, this independent nature also means creative people
feel comfortable taking on challenges themselves. With their freedom, they can
take as long as they need to understand the task and how to complete it.
They may even see
these challenges as opportunities to grow professionally and develop their
skills. While creative individuals enjoy collaborating with others, they often
also work on tasks alone. For example, an artist will paint independently to
allow complete focus on their process. This independence allows them to take as
long as they need to make decisions, such as what paint to use.
Intuitive: An intuitive person
makes decisions based on feelings—creative people may tap into this ability
more than other people. They trust in themselves to follow their hearts, rather
than feeling restricted by more logical demands. Intuition may not always lead
to the perfect solution, but it is a helpful tool when brainstorming and
generating ideas.
Some individuals
combine their intuition with logical reasoning. For example, they may solely
use intuition to generate ideas for a new product then start implementing logic
to test its feasibility. When they look beyond the facts or what already
exists, they may create innovations that have not been tried before. In the
next step of the creative process, they determine whether there is a reason why
they cannot bring those ideas to life.
Objective: Creative people
often feel passionate about what they do, but they also understand the need to
remain objective. While they strive to create the best work possible, they
realize they cannot reach that goal right away.
It often takes
continued practice and editing. For example, when a writer turns in the first
draft of their novel, they realize it cannot be published immediately. They
separate themselves from their work and listen to an editor's opinions on where
to make improvements. Without taking that feedback, they would not move any
closer to achieving their goal of publishing the novel.
Open-minded: An open-minded
person is willing to hear and try new ideas. When collaborating with others,
creative people want to hear all the possibilities and explore them further.
Due to their open-mindedness, they do not judge others' ideas or perspectives.
Instead, they take the time to listen to others so they can better understand
them.
They also are open to
new experiences so they enjoy trying various ways of performing tasks. Trying
new things can often bring excitement into their days. Being open to new
experiences can be as simple as taking a different route on their way to work
one day. If they receive a project assignment, they may choose to work with
someone new rather than teaming up with their usual colleague.
Playful: Creative people are
willing to play with various ideas until they find the right one. The sense of
playfulness means that they have fun with this process, rather than taking it
too seriously. Sometimes the best ideas can develop through accidents or
unintentionally.
As a result, they do
not put pressure on themselves to get it right the first time. For example, a
graphic designer might experiment with various colors and font styles when
creating a logo. When an idea enters their mind, they will try it and assess
whether it feels right. If not, they move onto the next one. They may eventually
compare all these ideas to determine their final choice.
Risk-taking: Creative people are
willing to take on the risks associated with trying new ideas. They do not know
if a concept is a bad one until it is tested or examined—so all ideas pose the
potential for solutions. Even if one fails, it can serve as a lesson on how to
do better in the future.
To them, not taking
risks hinders innovation because it requires staying within one's comfort zone.
To increase tolerance for risk-taking, creative people think about the reward
potential. While customers could hate a product, there is also the potential
for it to become the year's best-selling product. And if it is something they
believe could help people or improve their lives, for example, they see that as
a risk worth taking.
Sensitive: Due to their open
nature, creative people also tend to be sensitive. This sensitivity can help
them in many areas of life, both personally and professionally. Sensitive
people tend to appear more approachable to others and willing to listen to
their thoughts or feelings. Through caring about how others feel, they often
have an easier time building strong and trusting relationships.
Their sensitivity can
also increase their awareness of the issues around them, which sometimes can
cause them to care even more about solving them. For example, a creative person
who works in product development may take a very empathetic, customer-centered
approach. They want to ensure that the product solves customers' needs
effectively and creates a positive experience. Depending on the product, their
sensitivity may encourage them to find ways to make it more accessible to all customers.
Thorough: Creative people
often put a lot of thought and care into their work. They look at an issue from
all possible angles as they seek solutions. Then they test all the possible
solutions until they find one that best meets their needs. At times, this may
mean that they pay attention to details that seem minor to others.
For example, when
designing a pair of running shoes, a creative person will look at every
possible detail. They will think about what types of treads and shoe materials
will help the wearer run faster. Then they may think about other components
that would be important to the wearer, such as the shoes' performance in
different types of weather and how comfortable they feel.
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use. The more you have.”
(Maya Angelou)[i]
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