It’s not hard to find someone saying that everyone is creative and anyone can learn it.
But such a statement makes no sense to me.
If everybody is creative, having to “learn” implicitly tells that you are not -that is why you have to learn it.
What you really need to learn is how to manage it.
For example, if you are in a toxic environment -have an authoritarian boss, deal with highly competitive colleagues, and do only shallow busy work- you will hardly be creative at all.
On the other hand, if you are in a good atmosphere -have an inspiring and supportive leader, trustful colleagues, and do meaningful work- being creative will come to you naturally.
Over the years of teaching and consulting, I developed a personal method to facilitate and clarify each phase of the process.
As an inside joke, my clients called it the “Zamana Method”, and I embrace it.
Zoom in/out – What others have been doing differently in the usual places?
Ambiance – What is happening out of your radar that could change your field?
Mind behavior – What roles can I take up to participate in that change?
Attention – What changes do I want to see (or block)?
Narrow down – How can I be most effective?
Achievement – What can I do in the short/medium term to have the best outcomes in the long run?
If you are looking for new ways to manage your or your team’s creativity, answering those questions may be a good place to start.
Which part of the creative process do you struggle the most?
Which solutions did you find to overcome it?