Unleash Your Inner Creative Genius!

One of my favourite recent memories is watching Carlos Alcaraz win the Wimbledon tennis championship. He played with such freedom and some of his shots were truly remarkable. He created moments of wonder that made the crowd groan in amazement and the tv pundits purr with excitement.?

These moments of wonder weren’t just luck or hype, but were created from years of hard work, creativity, his will to win and his mindset to find a creative shot and solution to every challenge (including beating Novak Djokovic).?

?? The Psychology Behind Creative Brilliance ??

Let's kick things off with a brief glimpse into the realm of psychology and how it intertwines with our creative capabilities. Our brains are wired to crave novelty and embrace new challenges, but often the daily grind of business can dull our sense of wonder, leaving us stuck in a repetitive loop of mediocrity. That’s why as an agency we start all client relationships asking the question ‘I wonder if’. This allows us to start our relationship with a client or project with a sense of exploration and open-mindedness.?

Psychological safety is key to unleashing creativity. When individuals feel safe to express themselves and take risks without ridicule, it ignites the spark of innovation. So, we create a space where even the most "out there" ideas are given a chance for exploration.?

?? Diving into Divergent Thinking ??

One of the cornerstones of creative thinking is "divergent thinking." This is the ability to generate a multitude of fresh ideas, embracing novelty and originality. Psychologists have studied the mechanisms behind divergent thinking, highlighting the significance of a flexible mindset that can leap from one idea to another without restraint.

?? The Power of Associative Thinking ??

Have you ever wondered how some people can connect seemingly unrelated concepts to come up with brilliant solutions? That's the power of associative thinking at work! This psychological process involves drawing parallels between distant ideas, tapping into the vast reservoirs of our knowledge and experiences. It's like weaving a tapestry of ideas, creating an intricate web of thoughts that lead to innovative breakthroughs.

?? Embracing the Creative Flow: The Role of "Flow State" ??

You've probably experienced those moments when time seems to fly by, and you're completely immersed in what you're doing – that's called the "flow state." Psychology has shown that creative individuals often find themselves in this state, where they lose track of time and perform at their peak. Unlocking this flow state allows creative minds to explore uncharted territories and overcome obstacles with ease. You can see Carlos Alcarez in his flow state where he’s just flowing on the court.?

I’m sure some of you are reading this and think it all sounds lovely in principle, but in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, this kind of thinking isn’t possible (or at least feasible).?So, here are 3 things you can do to start the journey of implementing wonder in your business or team:

1. Make room for creativity: creating space for creative thinking either in a meeting or individually is vital to develop a culture of creativity and wonder?
2. Empower people to get into their “flow state”: constant meetings, messages and emails is not conducive in letting creativity flow.?
3. Call in external support if needed: it’s easy to get stuck in your current way of thinking and working, and making this change can be daunting at times, so call in someone like Wonderful to host a workshop to get the ball rolling.?

DM me if you would like to chat through any of this further, or if you want to discuss how we run our ‘Wonder’ exploratory workshops with brands and leaders.?

Have a ‘wonder filled’ week.

Love?

Dan?