problem. Over time, most people find that the more they use a variety of activities, the easier it becomes to create new perspectives.
5. Minimize Negative Thinking
Unless you are an exceptional person, you are a natural critic. From an early age we have learned to analyze and criticize anything new. Now that we are adults, being critical is
second nature. We are experts at it.
What is your typical first reaction when someone proposes a new idea? Do you usual- ly say something like “That’s fantastic,” “That’s a great idea,” or “That’s really interest-
ing”? Probably not. Although there may be a few exceptions, most of us come preprogrammed with the “auto-
matic no” response. Through training and conditioning in school and at home, we have learned to criticize first and think later. It’s almost as if we have learned that it is better to
reject something new outright than even to consider its potential value as a solution.
An Exercise in Negative Thinking
To illustrate this automatic no tendency, here’s a little exercise to do by yourself or use with a group: Take five minutes and write down every negative response you can think
of to a new idea. When finished, compare your list with the following one. Chances are there are a lot of similarities, if not direct duplications.
• Our problem is different. • We tried that once before.
• We don’t have enough time. • We don’t have enough help.
• Our system is too small for this. • We’ve always done it this way.
• Our present method is time-tested and reliable. • It’s impractical.
• It’s ahead of its time. • It’s behind the times.
• We’re not ready for it yet. • We’ve had too much of this lately.
• We can’t teach an old dog new tricks. • Our young, progressive group doesn’t need it.
• It will require a heavy investment. • It will never pay for itself.
• If no investment is required, how do we expect it to work? • It’s too radical.
• It’s almost the same as what we’re doing now. • It looks good on paper, but it won’t work.
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Six Key Principles for Encouraging Creativity
TLFeBOOK
• It violates professional standards. • The board won’t like it.
• It’s outside my scope of responsibility. • It conflicts with policy.
• The present method is working. Why rock the boat? You probably could think of many more examples with very little effort. Now, what
would happen if you tried to make a list of positive responses? Try it. Take five minutes and write down every positive response you can think of to a new idea. Most likely, this
second list will be shorter than the first. It’s much more difficult to think of positive responses.
Develop Balanced Responses
To break out of the negative thinking groove, try to develop more balanced responses to new ideas. There are a number of ways to do this. Here are three:
1. Try viewing ideas as raw material; that is, initial ideas are the fragile creatures we often transform into more workable solutions. So be gentle. Support and cradle all new
ideas—they frequently can be modified or can help stimulate improved versions. 2. Every time you hear a new idea, train yourself to think or say, “What’s good about it? What is
at least one positive feature of that idea?” If you can think of one positive aspect, then you will benefit from what may initially have appeared useless. Moreover, the posi-
tive feature may stimulate a better idea.
3. Use a balanced response to evaluating new ideas. Say or think what you like about the idea, what you find interesting about it, and then what you dislike. This might help
prevent the negative climate in individuals and groups that often accompanies responses to ideas.
6. Take Prudent Risks
