6 Myths about Creativity

There are several common myths about creativity that can misunderstand its nature and how to encourage it. Demystifying them can help in improving your personal and organizational creativity. Here are some of those myths and how you can be more creative:

  1. Myth: Creativity is an innate gift.

    • Reality: Creativity is not exclusive to a selected few. It’s an ability that can be developed with practice and adequate techniques.
    • How to be more creative: Foster a continuous learning environment, seek new experiences and practice divergent thinking.

  2. Myth: Creativity is all about generating ideas.

    • Reality: Creativity also involves the effective implementation of those ideas. Just thinking is not enough, you have to act as well.
    • How to be more creative: Work on materializing your ideas. Develop experimenting and prototyping skills and collaborate with others to bring your ideas to life.

  3. Myth: Pressure and stress boost creativity.

    • Reality: Although a certain amount of pressure can be motivating, excessive stress generally inhibits creative thinking.
    • How to be more creative: Seek a balance between deadlines and creative freedom. Take breaks and spend time on relaxing activities to clear your mind.

  4. Myth: Creativity always involves something completely new.

    • Reality: Creativity often comes from the combination or modification of already existent ideas.
    • How to be more creative: Don’t limit yourself to look just for completely new things. Observe what already exists from different perspectives and combine concepts with innovative ways.

  5. Myth: Creativity flourishes alone.

    • Reality: While working alone can be productive for some people, collaboration often generates more diverse and robust ideas.
    • How to be more creative: Participate in brainstorming sessions and collaborate with people from different disciplines and backgrounds.

  6. Myth: There’s only one correct way to be creative.

    • Reality: Creativity manifests itself in many ways. What works for one person may not work for another.
    • How to be more creative: Experiment with different techniques and approaches. Find what works best for your personal style and context.

To encourage creativity, it’s important to keep an open mind, be curious, and be willing to try and learn from mistakes. Creativity is a dynamic skill that evolves with practice and exploration.