“CREATIVITY AT WORK”

“A reasonable man adapts himself to the world; an unreasonable man adapts the world to himself, so
all the progress depends on the unreasonable man” – George Bernard Shaw

1. What is creativity?

Creativity is as old as mankind is on this earth. Early man started living inside the caves for
his physical comfort or to escape from wild animals – it was a creative act. Then he started
using sharp stones as a weapon for hunting. He found that for moving an object it is easier to
roll it, then physically lifting and carrying it. In this progress the wheels came. Then he made
fire. These are all creative acts of mankind. So creativity started the moment life began on this
planet. But creativity, as a science, is very young. So there are several definitions and several
view points on “What is creativity?”

The following are some of them:

a) Creativity is the ability to conceive new ideas

b) Creativity is expecting the unexpected

CREATIVITY + LOGIC= INNOVATIONS

2. Left and Right Brains

Dr. Roger Sperry was the first to draw attention that the brain has two distinct lobes – right
and left
a) The left brain controls movements on the body’s right hand side

b) And the right brain controls the left hand side.

The faculties are left and right brains are listed below

RIGHT BRAIN LEFT BRAIN

Imagination Logic
Music Analysis
Rhythm Language
Colour Number
Humour Reasoning
Day dreaming Writing

Left Brain usually ask CAN I DO THIS?

Right Brain usually ask HOW CAN I DO THIS?

So try to use Right Brain to become an UNREASONABLE MAN.

Dynamics of brains function - “What else?” :

Question: What are the uses of a white paper?

(Try to give atleast minimum 10 answers)

In the above exercise, what was your first answer?

In any situation, when we have to find a solution, the left brain starts the work. It immediately
tells, what is our past experience? what is the most conventional way?, what did we do last
time?, how others are doing? etc. When we retrieve this information, we are satisfied, even
very happy, as though the problem is solved. We just pick up one from among these and close
the problem.

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 At this moment, what would happen if we ask “What else?” The stock in the left brain is
almost exhausted on that particular issue and still we are asking for more. Now the right brain
has to wake up and take up the work. Right brain means always something new and different.

Hence, we have to ask ourself periodically “What else?” “What else?” “What else?”

3. Measuring creativity

a) Remote Association Test (RAT)

This test attempts to measure a person’s imagination and flexibility.

i) Consider the clues and choose one alternative from among the given, that is
related to all three clues.

Example: Clues – river, game, link

Alternatives – IRRIGATION, MAGAZINE, BRIDGE, HUNTER

b) Torrence Divergency Test

This exercise is a measure of a person’s fluency and flexibility.

Example: See how many you can think in five minutes for the above question of

What are the uses of a white paper?

A more creative person is able to generate large number of variety of ideas varying from,
as a fuel, a hand fan, a symbol of pease, for packaging, as an insulator etc. A less creative
person generates fewer ideas in the same lines – for writing, painting, printing currecy,
photocopying etc.

4. Lateral thinking techniques for problem solving

Divide the square in to four equal parts – the outcoming four pieces should be of similar shape
and same size. Also material wastage is not allowed.

(Try to give atleast minimum 10 answers)

By asking “What else? and What more?” we can get lot of answers.

5. Problem solving

What is a problem? It is difference between what I have & what I want. Whenever we are in
problem, there are three avenues in front of us to choose.

a) Fight b) Flight c) Freeze

In the first option, we confront and `fight’ against the situation to win over it.

In the second option, we `flight’, fly away (withdraw) from the situation. We compromise,
accept the things as they are and learn to live with them as though they are not important or
cannot be changed by us.

Third option – Freeze: Some times we choose neither of these two and continue to remain
grumbling and bothered without doing anything. This option `freeze’, strains the mind and
builds up stress.

Hence, more important is to keep away from `FREEZE’

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6. Creativity on the job

According to recognised aerotechnical tests, the bumble bee cannot fly, because of the shape
and weight of this body in relation to total wing area. The bumble bee doesn’t know this. So it
goes ahead and flies any way.

The saying goes`Ignorance is bliss’. But the message here is, `even if all the aircrafts that are
designed using aerotechnical tests, doesn’t mean that these are final. There is something
beyond them. Confining to known things as though they are final is a form of regidity. The
more and more we know, the more and more we are confining to our learning.

What the hand book or the manuals say are all true. What we have learnt in our colleges and
later are all fine. But that is not the end. There can be, and is something beyond these. The
supervisors have to be always in search of them.

7. Reversal

This is more of an attitude of the right brain, than a techniq. If we look at all sucessful people
we can identify one characteristic that is common among all of them – they are all right brain
oriented.

Ask yourself, `can I finish this work by 6 O’clock?’ Observe what goes on in your mind. First
you analyse to see the requirements of material and information and their availability. Next
your mind goes to see the past experience of time that the work took.

Now you ask the question, `How can I finish this work by 6 O'clock?' Try to experience what
goes on in your mind. Your focus of attention narrows down to the work in hand. Your mind
searches for all the alternatives, even imaginary or ambitious once.

* Ratan Tata announced, we will make a care at a cost of Rs 1.00 lakh.'

* Ambani declared, `We will provide telephone calls at the cost of a post card.'

Knowingly or unknowingly they followed a techniq called `Reversal'

So, the next time when you come across an issue, think opposite, look for unreasonable
solutions or reverse and DON'T ASK, CAN I DO IT? ASK `HOW CAN I DO IT?'

INK