This is the first question that I hear when people come to know that I am a creativity trainer.

If only I had a simple yes / no answer to that question.

Because answer to that is: YES!
And at the same time: NO!

Let me explain.

Creative thinking is a skill. It can be taught. There are techniques of idea generation which are powerful and very useful as well.

And yet people don't use them.

What can be the reason?

I have attended creativity training sessions myself, enjoyed the session, and had competition with other groups to create more ideas. We gave good feedback for the trainer. Yet after a few days we felt there was something missing.

Now I know the reason.

Managers don't see the ROI on the creativity training because teaching right brain strategies to the left brain is like learning to fly an aeroplane while practicing on a bicycle!

And it reflects in their behaviour.

People don't use the techniques for these basic reasons:

1:
They are conditioned to work in an analytic fashion all these years. They have invested years in the left brain strategies.

It has given them rewards as well. They have reached certain place in life on basis of these same strategies.

It's very difficult for them to erase that conditioning.

2:
Left brain logical thinking is a habit for them. It's comfortable. Asking them to leave this comfort zone without giving them alternatives and a support system doesn't work.

3:
The environment around them is not ready for this kind of shift and an individual needs courage and determination to push his new thinking in this environment.

In short, the person needs more than just some techniques. He needs to create new beliefs.

He needs to integrate these beliefs in his system at a deep level, so there is no conflict within himself when he is using new ways of thinking.

He needs deeper motivation to use these techniques, only then the person will be able to face the opposition from the environment around him.

That's why training should answer these concerns in its design itself.

Ask these questions to make creativity training successful:

Is the training "unlike" other trainings?

Are there enough stimuli to engage the right brain and the subconscious mind in a powerful way?

Is there a plan to integrate the learning in a systematic way in the organization?

Are you ready to take the leap now?