Did you know?

Today’s employers prefer candidates who can color outside the lines…they want creative thinkers. In fact, creativity is an important leadership competency executives seek. Creative thinkers are needed to help stimulate our continued economic recovery and to solve the challenging and complex problems that confront us on both national and international fronts. Yet, in a time when creative thinkers are in demand and America’s creativity has been on the decline for nearly a generation, millennials may be turning the tide towards innovation. To help stimulate creativity, begin with today’s activity suggested by Linda Krall.

Do this…

• Ask questions about creativity.

How would you define creativity?
Who do you know who is creative?
What do you do to tap into your creativity?

• View video.
• Distribute the Student Activity, (an electronic, fillable pdf) review directions and complete.
• Share the reason Linda included each item.
  Dr. Seuss stickers…be playful, silly and use your imagination;
  Crayons…tap into your inner child and color outside the lines;
  Punching bag…turn your anger into fuel for creative pursuits;
  Bubbles…to create beautiful things it takes your breath, your spirit;
  Play-Doh…the creative process is messy, dig in and utilize your sense of touch;
  Bookmark…read inspiring stories;
  Candy…life is sweet savor each moment.
• Discuss what’s in their bags with each other in small groups or as a class.

Get Real!

Famous playwright George Bernard Shaw said …”If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.” Inspire innovation by asking students to share a creative idea.

“Creativity is not a bolt from the blue but a process a series of incremental steps that leads to the magic “Eureka” moment.”

– James Harrison, Brain Training