Nowadays it is so fashionable to be creative, imaginative and productive that many consider themselves as such, without even thinking about what all these smart words mean. Meanwhile, it is extremely small to believe that a person has all these qualities. They need to be worked on – for some more, for others less – but few people have something that falls from the sky.
Today we will talk about developing creativity. In particular, we will think about how to develop creativity in 30 days. It will be much easier for everyone who has completed our programs ” From Dream to Goal ” and ” TRIZ in Practice: Creative Approach at Work and in Life “, because the article will contain many familiar moments. However, you have definitely not moved so quickly yet, so – to business!
What is creativity?
Creativity is a person’s ability to generate new, original ideas to achieve specific goals or solve specific problems. It combines unconventional thinking, flexibility of mind and the ability to see new opportunities in familiar things, but the main criterion is applicability in practice. Creativity is a prerequisite for innovation and scientific and technological progress.
Key characteristics of creativity:
- Originalityis the creation of something unique that has not existed before.
- Flexibility of thinkingis the ability to switch between different ideas and approaches.
- Adaptabilityis the ability to adapt ideas and concepts to different situations.
- Problem solvingis the use of creativity to find effective solutions.
- Innovationis the application of creative ideas to create something useful and meaningful.
American psychologist Joy Paul Guilford (1897-1987), who was one of the first to develop such a concept as “creativity” and introduced the word “creativity” into everyday use, identified several basic components of creativity [ J. Guilford, 1967 ].
Components of creativity (according to Guilford):
- Idea fluencyis the ability to quickly generate many ideas.
- Flexibilityis a variety of approaches to solving one problem.
- Originalityis the creation of unique ideas that differ from the usual.
- Refinementis the ability to develop and refine ideas into a concrete product.
What is the difference between creativity and creation? The terms “creativity” and “creation” are often used as synonyms, you can even find the phrase “creative creativity”, but there are differences between these concepts.
Creativity is the process and/or result of creating something new, original and aesthetically significant, expressing a person’s inner experiences, emotions or ideas.
Thus, developing a new marketing approach to promote a product or creating a technological device to make everyday life easier is creativity, and creating music, a painting, a novel is creativity. The common expression “presented my work at an exhibition” is precisely about the fact that the word “creativity” is applicable to both the process and the result.
Now that we have the terminology out of the way, we can move on to why we are all here now – to develop creativity.
Levels of creativity
Before we proceed directly to the development of creativity, we need to say a few words about the fact that creativity is different, and there are different levels of creativity. It is approximately like in creativity. Both a preschooler’s drawing and impressionist paintings are creativity, but the levels are different.
Again, there are different classifications of creativity levels. Let’s look at the most famous ones. And since we are interested in the development of creativity today, we will immediately give general recommendations on how to reach one or another level. Let’s start with the five-level model of creativity.
5-level model of creativity:
- Reproductive creativity.
- Adaptive creativity.
- Innovative creativity.
- Revolutionary creativity.
- Transcendent creativity.
Now let’s talk about each level in more detail.
Reproductive creativity
Reproductive creativity is the use of already known ideas, methods and approaches to solve problems. At this level, a person does not create something fundamentally new, but adapts or combines what exists, which is more like creativity.
An example would be creating a recipe from standard ingredients, relying on known culinary techniques. Or solving everyday problems using ready-made solutions (for example, fixing a shelf with improvised means).
Reproductive creativity is ideal for applying basic skills, creating useful solutions in standard conditions. How to develop? Learn to adapt and apply known ideas to new contexts. Study examples of other people’s solutions, practice repetition with variations.
Adaptive creativity
Adaptive creativity involves modifying existing ideas or methods to adapt to new conditions or improve the current state. An example would be optimizing a company’s work process, which does not change its essence but increases its efficiency. Or improving the design of a product , which makes it more convenient and functional.
Adaptive creativity is used to improve and enhance existing solutions. How to develop? As often as possible, ask yourself questions like, “How can this be improved? How can this be adapted to new conditions? What other applications are there?” Look for opportunities to improve something familiar by adding your own perspective.
Innovative creativity
Innovative creativity is the creation of something fundamentally new that can change current practice or open up new possibilities. For example, the development of a new product that radically changes everyday habits, as the computer once did, and then the smartphone.
Innovative creativity shapes breakthrough changes that impact industries, science , or society. How to develop it? Work on interdisciplinary thinking and look for unconventional connections between ideas. Explore new areas of knowledge, combine ideas from different fields.
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Revolutionary creativity
Revolutionary creativity is the generation of ideas or solutions that completely change the existing order of things, creating new paradigms. For example, the creation of quantum theory, which changed the understanding of physics, the transition from mechanical calculations to computers, and other discoveries that constitute the essence of the scientific and technological revolution.
Revolutionary creativity transforms entire fields of knowledge and ways of thinking. How to develop it? Explore fundamental questions and work at the intersection of several disciplines. Delve into complex issues, experiment with new approaches.
Transcendent creativity
And finally, transcendental creativity. This is creativity at the level of ideas that go beyond traditional human experience and knowledge. This level is often associated with spiritual, philosophical or artistic breakthroughs. This is the creation of new worldview systems, religions, philosophical concepts.
Transcendent creativity forms profound changes in the perception of the world and human culture. How to develop? Develop critical thinking, philosophical perception of the world and imagination. Work on the ability for deep self-analysis, delve into the history of culture, philosophy, art. The first step can be our online course ” History of Art “.
How creativity levels are applied:
- In business– from process optimization (adaptive) to the creation of new markets (innovative and revolutionary).
- In education– from mastering basic knowledge (reproductive) to introducing new teaching methods (innovative).
- In science– from the application of existing theories (reproductive) to the creation of revolutionary discoveries (revolutionary).
- In everyday life– from solving everyday problems (reproductive) to changing the usual way of life (innovative).
Any creativity, whatever it is and at whatever level of development, is always useful in its context. Reproductive creativity helps solve everyday problems, adaptive and innovative creativity helps move business and science forward, and revolutionary and transcendental creativity helps change the world and culture. Understanding these levels allows you to develop creativity purposefully, taking into account your goals and capabilities.
Even more widely known is the 4Cs model of creativity (where C stands for Creativity), developed by James C. Kaufman and Ronald Beghetto [ C. Kaufman, R. Beghetto, 2009 ]. This model divides creativity into four levels based on the scale and impact of creative activity, and helps to understand the diversity of creativity from everyday actions to global discoveries.
The 4C Model of Creativity :
- Mini-C (Mini-creativity).
- Little-C (Little Creativity).
- Pro-C (Professional Creativity).
- Big-C (Big Creativity).
Now let’s go into more detail about what this means.
Mini-C (Mini-creativity)
Mini-C is a personal creative discovery or understanding. This level is associated with an internal process of learning and self-awareness. It does not require public recognition and is based on subjective experiences and interpretations.
This is, for example, when a child learns to draw and comes up with his own style or a schoolchild finds his own way to understand and remember new complex material. This level is important for personal growth , learning and development, but is not yet sufficient for solving complex problems.
How to develop Mini-C? Ask questions like “Why? How? What if?” about a variety of things, explore new areas of knowledge, write down thoughts that arise throughout the day, even if they seem insignificant, learn new skills or hobbies without the goal of mastery, just for fun.
Little-C (Little Creativity)
Little-C is everyday creativity that helps solve everyday problems or improve the quality of life. It usually manifests itself in everyday situations and does not acquire a global scale.
It could be inventing a new recipe from leftovers in the fridge or developing a personal time management system. Such creativity helps to adapt and find non-standard solutions in everyday conditions.
How to develop Little-C? Try to do routine tasks (cleaning, work) in an unconventional way, use brainstorming to find new solutions, develop observation skills, do something with your own hands, play board games that require strategic thinking.
Pro-C (Professional Creativity)
Pro-C is creativity developed within the framework of professional activity. It requires training, skills and experience. Such creativity requires a systematic approach, and the results are often recognized by colleagues or the professional community.
This is, for example, a designer who creates a unique brand identity, or a design engineer who develops new models of equipment. This level contributes to professional growth and development of the industry.
How to develop Pro-C? Improve your skills, constantly learn new things in your professional field through courses, seminars, master classes, communicate with experts, join professional communities, attend events, exchange ideas with colleagues, study related fields, implement ideas on a small scale and test them.
Big-C (Big Creativity):
Big-C is creativity that creates innovations that change entire fields of knowledge, culture, and society. It implies international recognition, a high level of originality and influence.
This includes the invention of electricity, the Internet, the theory of relativity, and other events of this level. Such creativity changes the world and leaves a mark on history.
How to develop Big-C? Set ambitious goals, work on projects that require an unconventional approach and affect a wide audience, explore global problems, look for solutions to global issues (for example, climate change or digitalization), learn to convince others of the value of your ideas and assemble a team to implement them.
How to use the 4C model:
- In education, the development of Mini-C to stimulate personal creativity and Little-C to solve problems in everyday life.
- In business– encouraging Pro-C among employees for professional growth, investing in the development of Big-C projects that can lead to innovation.
- In personal development, recognizing the importance of Mini-C and Little-C as foundations for everyday happiness and adaptability and setting long-term goals to advance to Pro-C and Big-C levels.
Thus, creativity manifests itself at different levels, from personal to global. People can develop from Mini-C to Little-C, then to Pro-C and even Big-C. Which, however, is not necessary, because not everyone strives for recognition at the global level. Each level is important in its own context.
In particular, mini-creativity is necessary for learning, small-creativity is necessary for life, professional-creativity is necessary for a career, and large-creativity is necessary for changing the world. In any case, creativity is available to everyone, regardless of scale and context. And it can be developed in a relatively short period of time.
30 days to develop creativity – is that a lot or a little?
In fact, we have already started talking about developing creativity, and we started with the most general recommendations. We already know what needs to be done, but today we have a specific task: to complete it in 30 days and develop creativity in this short period. Is it possible?
In fact, it largely depends on what level of creativity you are at now. The same actions will allow someone to take the first steps towards developing creativity, and someone else, perhaps, will reach a new and very high level.
Developing creativity in 30 days is possible through daily practice, which includes a variety of exercises, new approaches to thinking, and consciously introducing creativity into everyday life. Let’s structure our knowledge into a step-by-step plan for a month that will allow you to achieve maximum results.
To help us, we recommend the recommendations from the article “30+ Exercises for Developing Creative Thinking” [ QUASA, 2021 ]. And the article “Secrets of Unlimited Inspiration: 15 Ways to Become More Creative” [ Genius.Space, 2023 ].
30 Day Creativity Development Plan
Let’s break our plan down into weeks.
Week 1 – Freeing the Mind
Goal: remove mental barriers and start thinking more broadly.
Day 1-2 – Get out of the routine. Do something new every day: try unfamiliar food, watch an unusual film, choose a different route for a walk. Get a notebook where you will write down everything that attracts your attention: interesting ideas, questions, strange observations.
Day 3-4 – develop associative thinking. Take a word (for example, tree) and come up with a couple dozen associations connected with it (green, coniferous, deciduous, etc.) Another exercise: combine two unrelated things (for example, “watch” and “bird”) and think of what can come out of it. Don’t stop at the option “time flies like a bird”, think further!
Day 5-7 – Free your imagination. Read books or articles from completely different fields of knowledge. Do an exercise: imagine that you are writing a script for a movie about your day. What could be changed in it to make it exciting?
Week 2 – Developing Creative Habits
Goal: to regularly train your thinking.
Day 8-10 – implement “creative five-minutes”. Spend 5 minutes every day on any creative activity: drawing, writing a poem, creating lists of ideas. Do an exercise: in 5 minutes, come up with 10 ways to improve an everyday object (for example, a chair).
Day 11-12 – Play with limitations. Set yourself unusual limits: paint a picture using only three colors, or write a text without using any word (for example, talk about yourself without using the pronoun “I”). Create a story of three words or sentences with an unusual ending. For example, “I woke up, had breakfast and went home.”
Day 13-14 – Brainstorm. Identify a problem or task and write down 30 ideas for solving it, even the most absurd ones. Don’t judge the ideas, just record them.
Week 3 – Implementing New Tools
Objective: To learn methods that will help you think outside the box.
Day 15-16 – Use visualization. Try drawing diagrams or mind maps to brainstorm ideas. Try this exercise: visualize your ideal workspace or dream project.
Day 17-18 – Random Inspiration Method. Take any book or website, open a random page and choose a word or sentence. Use it as a starting point for a new idea. Do an exercise: combine random objects from the environment and come up with a new meaning for them.
Day 19-21 – Practice the Six Thinking Hats. Apply the method to simple problems: for example, how to improve your morning routine. Use each “ hat ” to analyze your idea.
Week 4 – Expanding Horizons
Goal: to form a habit of looking at things in a new way.
Day 22-24 – Learn from others. Watch TED talks or interviews with creative people. Think about what their approaches can apply to your life.
Day 25-26 – Get inspired by art. Visit an exhibition, a theater, a concert, or just watch an unusual film. Do an exercise: choose an art object and come up with your own interpretation of its meaning.
Day 27-28 – collaboration. Find a like-minded person and discuss your ideas with them. Create something together: a project, a text, an art object.
Day 29-30: Review. Review your notes and completed tasks. Which ideas did you like the most? Make a plan to implement them.
What can you achieve in 30 days? You will learn to generate ideas faster and more confidently. You will have new approaches to solving problems and expressing yourself. Regular practice will form a habit of creative thinking that will work automatically.
Of course, this is a rough plan for 30 days of creativity development. You might do the associative thinking exercises very quickly, but writing a script for a movie about your day will take a whole week.
And the goal for which you decided to work on creativity can also make certain adjustments to the plan. It is difficult to think about developing creativity “in general” when you have no job and an empty refrigerator. But you can develop creativity in 30 days so that it helps increase your income or find a new source of income.
Developing creativity with a focus on increasing income or finding a new source of income can be done by combining creative thinking with practical actions. In this case, the 30-day plan should be aimed at generating ideas, testing them, and using creativity to increase income.
30 Day Creativity Plan to Increase Income
Let’s break our plan down into weeks again.
Week 1 – Developing ideas and recognizing your strengths
Goal: to understand your capabilities and find growth points.
Day 1-3 – define your area of expertise and interests. Write down your strengths , hobbies and skills. Identify problems that you can solve with their help (e.g. training, services, creativity). Write down everything, both confirmed by a diploma (e.g. physics teacher) and acquired (e.g. ability to show magic tricks). Highlight 10 areas where your experience can potentially generate income.
Day 4-5 – Market and Competition Analysis. Study current trends: what products, services or knowledge are in demand now? Find examples of successful people or companies that have monetized their ideas. Pay attention to unusual types of business and non-trivial ways of earning money.
Day 6-7 – Idea Generation. Create a list of 50 ideas on how you can make money from your skills. Choose 5 ideas that are the most realistic and interesting.
Week 2 – Practicing Out-of-the-Box Thinking
Objective: to learn to find unusual solutions and approaches.
Day 8-10 – implement the practice of brainstorming. Every day, come up with 10 non-standard ideas on how to improve or reduce the cost of a process in the chosen area. For example, if you could create an online course, think about how to make it unique (short lessons, humorous presentation, interactive).
Day 11-12 – a game with limitations. Imagine that you only have 1000 rubles to start. How will you use them? Think of how to earn money without investment, using social networks , exchange of services or barter.
Day 13-14 – develop associative thinking. Take random objects and think of ways they can be connected to your project. For example, if you are developing a course on time management, how can it be connected to the concept of a game or travel?
Week 3 – Testing ideas in practice
Objective: to test the feasibility of ideas and identify the best ones.
Day 15-17 – Minimal tests. Choose 2-3 ideas and launch them in a minimal format. For example, test a course through a free webinar or launch a trial project on a freelance platform. Offer services to acquaintances or friends on social networks.
Day 18-19 – Collect feedback. Find out from people who took part in the testing what they liked and didn’t like. Find out what problems they have that you could solve more effectively.
Day 20-21 – Improve ideas. Based on feedback, refine your projects. Come up with 10 ways to make your product/service unique.
Week 4 – Scaling and New Approaches
Goal: create a monetization plan and start earning steadily.
Day 22-24 – creating a monetization system. Determine a suitable business model. This could be a one-time sale (services, course), subscription (access to materials, regular consultations), commission (affiliate programs). Calculate how many clients you need to achieve your financial goal.
Day 25-26 – Promotion. Develop a promotion strategy. Think about how you can present your idea in an unusual way on social networks so that your advertising becomes viral , i.e. self-propagating.
Day 27-28 – Creative scaling. Think of ways to expand the project with minimal investment. This could be collaboration with other specialists from the most unexpected fields and the creation of additional products (checklists, mini-courses).
Day 29-30 – Review and plan. Evaluate the results: what worked and what didn’t? Make a plan for the next 3 months, including new experiments and development of successful areas.
Daily practice develops the skill of creative thinking , and the focus on income, when ideas are immediately checked for the possibility of monetization, will support the motivation to develop creativity. Again, this is an approximate plan. Someone will generate 50 ideas for earning money in a couple of hours, and someone will stop at two dozen ideas and will not be able to move further.
In fact, there is nothing to worry about. It may happen that someone who came up with 20 ways to earn money in a week will start earning much faster than someone who came up with 50 ways in half a day. We remember that the creativity of an idea is tested by practice, and practical applicability is one of the main criteria of creativity.
In any case, these 30 days will be useful to you, and by the finish your ability to think creatively will be an order of magnitude higher than at the start. This can be measured in quantifiable indicators. For example, by taking the Torrance Creativity Test .
American psychologist Alice Paul Torrance has studied creativity and creative thinking throughout his career, and as a result, he was able to create the most comprehensive test of creativity, including research into a wide variety of aspects of thinking.
