Psychological wellness in individuals and organizations occurs when you stop applying yesterday’s solutions to today’s problems. Creative/innovative thinking results in better problem solving abilities that enhance your productivity, decreases stress and helps you avoid future shocks. What is your understanding of creative/innovative attitudes?
A. SELF-ASSESSMENT
- Do you consider yourself creative?
a. Very
b. Moderately
c. Not at all - What creative accomplishments have you achieved in the past?
a. Many
b. Some
c. None - Do you want to be more creative?
a. Yes
b. No - Do you think it’s your destiny to develop something creatively?
a.Yes
b. No - When you were growing up, did the following apply?
a. Moved frequently
b. Given freedom and independence to think for yourself
c. Given clear standards of right and wrong
d. Parents were independent and effective in their work
e. Parents respected you and your abilities
f. Intense closeness was avoided
g. Consistent and effective discipline
h. Many positive models to identify with
i. Lack of pressure to find professional identity
j. Parents had more artistic, cultural, and intellectual interests than neighbors - Do you
a. allow free time during the day to do nothing?
b. feel guilty when not working?
c. alternate between work and play? - Do you love the work that you want to be creative?
a. Yes
b. No - Do you ask questions that might seem stupid by others?
a. Yes
b. No - Do you
a. “Strike while the iron is hot?”
b. “Make the iron hot by striking?”
c. “Strike out?” - Do you believe?
a. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
b. “It’s always broke.” - Do you
a. need a logical explanation for everything?
b. delight in uncertainty and mystery? - Do you
a. prefer to work alone?
b. prefer to work in groups? - Do you
a. need to put everything in its proper place?
b. tolerate ambiguous situations well? - In problem solving do you
a. need to have a clear plan before moving ahead?
b. try anything to find a direction to move? - When someone suggests a new idea, do you
a. immediately evaluate it, looking for weaknesses?
b. defend it, trying to find its strengths?
c. play with the possibilities suggested by the idea? - In solving problems do you
a. logically figure the situation out?
b. look for as many possibilities as you can think of?
c. rely on hunches that you check out later? - Do you believe that intuition is
a. a reality worth relying on?
b. the inability to be logical? - Do you
a. like excitement and change?
b. prefer peace and a reliable routine? - How willing are you to take a chance?
a. Comfortable with risking
b. Depends upon the situation - If you were given a new toy or game to play, would you
a. always go by the instructions?
b. play around, improvising with the materials?
c. devise variations after learning the correct way? - Do you agree (A) or disagree (D) with the following?
a. What other’s think about you is important.
b. Rules are made to be broken.
c. Dreams are useless.
d. It’s bad to change your mind frequently.
e. Wishing makes it happen.
f. Curiosity killed the cat. - Do you most go by?
a. a situation’s potential
b. the practical consequences
c. how others’ might react
d. the beauty of the solutionB. YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF CREATIVITY
- Which of the following are characteristics of creativity?
a. Spontaneity
b. Deliberateness
c. Newness
d. Value
e. Skills
f. Play
g. Work
h. Convergence
i. Divergence - Does an idea have to be carried out to be considered “creative?”
a. Yes
b. No - Do you believe creative production
a. is best rewarded?
b. is hindered by rewards? - Do you believe creative behavior
a. is a sign of compensation for unmet emotional needs?
b. is an expression of the healthy personality? - Creativity
a. is an all or none phenomena–you’re creative or you’re not?
b. exists on a continuum? - Which is more important to originality?
a. Asking the right question
b. Finding the right answerC. SOME CHALLENGES
- Count the squares.
- Connect the dots with four straight lines.
- What different uses can you find for a plastic milk bottle?
- Take a word beginning with “C.” Then consider the problem of war. Force fit as many metaphoric solutions using your “C” word. For example, how is war “cow-like?” “car-like?” “candle-like?” What new perspectives can you come up with for solving the problem of war?
[Find the answers on this website, Creativity Self-Assessment]