This presentation gathers 16 tactics for enhanced creativity. Some of them come from my favorite books, such as "Creativity in Business," of from guided visualizations from people like Shakti Gawain. I may have even cooked up a few of these myself.

1. LearnVisualThinking.com
16 tactics for
enhanced creativity
what to do when you are
stuck

2. LearnVisualThinking.com
The Demand Grid
An important habit for creative problem
solving is to generate many possible
solutions, BEFORE plunging into one.
There is a tendency to search for ideas,
and commit too readily to the first
plausible direction.
The demand grid is a set of 16 boxes,
which establishes a minimum quota of
ideas to generate prior to switching into
an analytical, left-brain mode.

3. Reframe the Question
❖
Before working on something,
Einstein said he would spend
most of his time reframing the
question. Relativity emerged
because he didn't feel the need
to fit the data / ideas into the
model of Newtonian physics.
❖
Before investing energy, create
your own version of the
question. Make it your own!

4. The Destruction of Limits
❖
When engaged in brainstorm,
pose "What if?" questions to
yourself, or your team, which
blow apart your assumptions.
❖
Example: Midway through the
Chasm Crossing exercise, I say,
"Oh, did you assume this
chasm is on Earth?" Or, "Have
you thought of any ideas that
didn't assume the time frame to
cross was limited to a normal
human lifespan?

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The Beauty of
Questions
Think of Robert Irwin as an
example of someone who gave
up fame, financial success as an
artist. What could potentially
happen if you walked away
from your present identity?

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Visit Ancient Egypt
In a relaxed state, use this
playful exercise to get
suggestions from your calm,
wise inner self. Learn to be kind
and patient with yourself, when
you attempt something new.

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Crossing a Chasm
Learn how to brainstorm by focusing on
an imaginary problem, and then apply
the same process to a real-world
problem. In efficient brainstorming, no
time is wasted in negative, analytical
thought, or in being "practical."

8. ❖
You don't have to be you.
❖
Role play.
❖
Trying to be more
compassionate? Imagine
yourself as the Dali
Lama. What would he
do?

9. LearnVisualThinking.com
Creative Surrender
We are constantly told to persevere, to
never give up. But devotion to a goal that
we no longer care to achieve is a waste of
time + energy. It is time away from
manifesting the current dream.
Letting go, step sideways, pausing to
connect with what matters now are
essentially to moving laterally. The root of
disappointment is usually that we didn't
ask for what we truly wanted.

10. Remember the 3 E's
❖
Stuck, or unmotivated to work
on a project?
❖
Try the three E's. Do only what
is:
❖
Easy
❖
Effortless &
❖
Enjoyable

11. LearnVisualThinking.com
Countering the
Inner Critic
When negative inner voices pop up, don't
attempt to judge or suppress them; that's just
fuel on the fire.
Instead, note the exact words of your critic.
And then compose an affirmation in reply.
Rather than, "I feel really dumb about art,"
you might say, "I am just beginning to express
myself this way, and I will be as kind to
myself, as I would be to the first efforts of a
child. I'll just give it a go, and have some fun."

12. Contacting Your Inner Guide
❖
If you like the visualization
we did in class, purchase a
copy, and try it again a few
times. ($5.95 on audible.com)
❖
Or simply go somewhere
relaxing and quiet, take a
few deep breaths, and
imagine walking down an
imaginary path to a place
that feels safe and nurturing.

13. LearnVisualThinking.com
Killers + Nurturers
Recall the list of things that may kill
creativity. Which one(s) were most
significant to you?
What are some of the nurturers that are
most significant for you?
Take action, and do something that will
making it easier to engage your creative
power.

14. Pink Bubble Technique
❖
From Shakti's audio book,
Creative Visualization.
❖
Visualize clearly one thing you
truly desire. Something you
want, not a thing tied to what
you should do.
❖
Once the image is very clear,
encase it in a pink balloon.
Imagine letting go, watching it
drift up, and feeling confidence
that one way or another it will
manifest itself in your life.

15. The Sanctuary
❖
Think of the symbolic inner
sanctuary, the dream
circumstances that suit you best.
❖
Next, consider places and
circumstances in the real world
that enhance your creative
confidence.
❖
Brainstorm some ways to make
the real world space more closely
resemble the dream.

16. LearnVisualThinking.com
Burn what you love
Several artists have said that their first
act of creation is one of destruction. This
might be literal--burning the chair as an
act of transformation. or it might be
conceptual.
Certainly, the beginning of a new life,
involves a bit of grieving over the life,
the dream that has moved into the past.

17. The Lateral Switch
❖
It isn't a matter of saying rational
thinking, bad; creative thinking,
good.
❖
Rather, develop a sensitivity for
when it's time to ideate and be
lateral. One indicator is when you
feel stuck or frustrated in a job,
project, or relationship.
❖
Dream up a list of options focusing
on what you wish the future to be,
rather than confining your ideas to
what you expect it to be.

18. Vertical vs Lateral
❖
There is certainly a time
and place for pragmatic
thinking--the airline pilot
going over his preflight
checklist, finding out
about the weather ahead.
❖
But, without periods of
impractical, child-like
dreaming, the idea of a
flying machine would
never have been born.