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Skills For Success

Creativity – The First Step to Success

Course Overview

Creativity is more than just a buzzword—it’s a key driver of success and innovation. This course delves into creativity as a vital attitude characterized by fresh ideas, diverse perspectives, and the ability to transcend conventional thinking. The course will explore three essential aspects of creativity: self-discovery, problem-solving, and the significance of teamwork. By addressing these aspects, you will develop the skills and insights needed to tackle challenges and enhance your problem-solving abilities in various contexts.

Module: Introduction to Creativity

Creativity involves more than just generating novel ideas; it encompasses a mindset that encourages looking beyond the obvious, exploring new perspectives, and challenging established norms. It’s about cultivating an attitude that fosters innovation and adaptability.

  • Freshness of Ideas: Creativity thrives on novel and original ideas that break away from traditional patterns.
  • Different Points of View: Embracing multiple perspectives helps in understanding problems from various angles.
  • Transcending Established Patterns: Moving beyond conventional thinking opens up new possibilities and solutions.

Reflection:
Consider the following questions:

  • What does creativity mean to you personally?
  • How do you see creativity influencing success in various areas of life?

Exercises

Exercise 1: My Name – Creativity for Self-Discovery (20 minutes)

Objective: Explore personal creativity through a unique self-reflection exercise.

Instructions:

  1. Write your name vertically on a sheet of paper.
  2. For each letter of your name, come up with a characteristic term or phrase that represents a creative aspect of yourself (e.g., A – Artful, N – Noteworthy).
  3. Reflect on what new insights you gained about yourself from this exercise.

Discussion Points:

  • What new things did you discover about yourself?
  • Was the form of this exercise helpful?

Exercise 2: Problem-Solving with Creativity

Objective:
Apply creative thinking techniques to solve problems effectively.

Overview: Creativity plays a significant role in problem-solving by offering innovative solutions and alternative approaches. One effective method for creative problem-solving is Walt Disney’s Three Chairs Technique, which involves viewing problems from different perspectives.

Technique Overview:

  • Dreamer’s Chair: Generates imaginative and visionary ideas. Think about what you would do if there were no limitations.
  • Realist’s Chair: Focuses on practical implementation. Evaluate how feasible the ideas are and what steps are needed to bring them to life.
  • Critic’s Chair: Analyzes the potential drawbacks and challenges. Assess the practicality of the ideas and suggest improvements.

Exercise:
Choose a problem or challenge you are currently facing. Use the Three Chairs Technique to explore the issue from each perspective:

  1. Dreamer’s Perspective: What creative solutions can you envision?
  2. Realist’s Perspective: How can these solutions be realistically implemented?
  3. Critic’s Perspective: What potential issues or obstacles might arise, and how can they be addressed?

Reflection:
Reflect on how each perspective contributed to your understanding of the problem and the development of solutions. Consider how this method can be applied to other challenges in your life.

Module: The Importance of Teamwork in Creativity

Overview: Teamwork can significantly amplify creativity by bringing together diverse viewpoints and skills. Effective collaboration fosters an environment where ideas can be shared, refined, and implemented more efficiently.

  • Diverse Perspectives: Teams consist of individuals with varying backgrounds and experiences, which can lead to more innovative ideas.
  • Collaborative Brainstorming: Group discussions can generate a wider range of ideas and solutions.
  • Role Distribution: Effective teamwork involves leveraging each member’s strengths and expertise.

Reflection:
Consider how working in a team has influenced your creative process. Reflect on:

  • How does collaboration impact your problem-solving abilities?
  • What role do you play in a team setting, and how does it contribute to the overall creative process?

Paper Tower – Creativity in Teamwork (20 minutes)

Objective: Foster creativity in teamwork and problem-solving.

Instructions:

  1. Divide into two teams.
  2. Using only half a ream of A4 paper per team, build a tower that is at least 1 meter high.
  3. The tower must stand independently for at least 30 seconds.
  4. Time limit: 20 minutes.

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