Are you a leader? Would like to recognize as a creative dreamer or a dreamy creator? Can we focus on creativity, if we want to dream in a bigger way? There is certain enigmatic relationship between leadership and creativity. In order to be a leader, we must open for new ideas and have guts to work on calculative experimentation. If you do nothing, you achieve nothing. According to *Fred Deluca, founder of Subway, ‘Most people probably have an idea for a business, but they never do anything about it.’
Let me share an easy idea. The easiest and surest way to be successful is to imbibe successful people’s habit, thinking, actions and attitude. Don’t think much; just copy them in every possible way. Be it success or achievements. You will reach extremely close to these people.
Let’s ask our self an important question. What if you want to exceed successful people’s achievements and dreams? Is it possible just by copying them? The answer is big ‘No’. And here comes ‘Out of the Box’ or ‘Unconventional’ or ‘Creative’ thinking.** Noted American executive and author, Jay Abraham is right, when he said, ‘As soon as you open your mind to doing things differently, the doors of opportunity practically fly off their hinges.’ What is our idea of ‘Unconventional’ thinking? How do we define it?
Is it just related with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)? Or is it new writing, new dramas, new theaters or new broad-ways?
Someone from a family of industrialists wants to be an architect or a singer. Can you say it creative thinking? Or a group of volunteers start ‘cleanup project’ for their street. Is it called a creative action?
If a president of the biggest developing economy suggests MNC soft drink makers to add at least 5% fruit juice into their drink formulation. This can give a profitable preposition to millions of farmers. Can we describe this as an ‘out of the box’ idea?
Lists are long and above all are creative thinking examples. Sky is the limit – when we dream and think in an unconventional manner. What can we understand here? Simple. Creative thinking is not just restricted to certain occupation. Also, it doesn’t belong to only ‘super intelligent’ or ‘super talented’ people.
Making the logistics process a bit easier, recovering the payment from dicey customers, making sincere efforts to give more quality time to your family, improving work culture in office – all these are examples of creative thinking.
In nutshell, unconventional thinking is all about putting that extra efforts and finding new, improved ways to do things. Doing things in innovative ways give you edge over others; who do it in common, conventional way.
Suppose, you have decided to think creatively! What is your starting point? Actions! Before action, comes your unmatched belief that ‘it can be done’. If you believe this, you have already won the half battle. A story of 2 small boys will help us to believe this.
2 young boys, Jimmy, 9 and Bonny, 13 were travelling from their village to another village. At midway, Jimmy became thirsty. Both boys started to search for water. They found a well, filled with water in a lonely area. They didn’t find anyone to help them.
Bonny asked Jimmy to wait under the tree. He went to the well to bring water. He reached near the well. He was accessing the depth of the well. Suddenly, Bonny lost his balance and fell into the well. He shouted for help and small Jimmy heard his plea. He rushed towards the well and saw Bonny in real trouble. Then he saw a bucket tied with long rope, lying on the ground. He believed that he could help Bonny to get out of the well. But, how could he lift bigger and bulky Bonny? But, Jimmy did it. He achieved a herculean task. He dropped the basket and rope into the well and brought Bonny out of the well.
Bonny was as happy as clam. He was surprised with Jimmy’s feat. It was out of his imagination that Jimmy could ever bail him out. “How could you manage this?” Bonny asked him and added, “Don’t you feel, you are bit small to lift my load?”
“Well”, Jimmy explained with smile, “I thought that I can help you. Secondly (and most importantly), there was nobody here to tell me that I couldn’t do this (or this is impossible). So, I focused more on to make it possible.”
To do things differently, you need to think differently. And for that, ‘It can be done. I can do it’ attitude is the most crucial. You may argue, “How can we just believe blindly?” It is as simple as A, B, C, and D. You need to believe in the power of creative thinking.
Ref : * https://hbr.org/2008/10/creativity-and-the-role-of-the-leader
Ref : ** Book The Sticking Point Solution: 9 Ways to Move Your Business from Stagnation to Stunning Growth InTough Economic Times by Jay Abraham