Can small business creativity be learned?

Perhaps the question should be “Can creativity be re-learned?” Many studies of creativity in children and adults show that children are more creative than adults. Why is this?

Many researchers point to our education system, built on principles developed during the Industrial Revolution. People in this time period were producing linear-thinking, hard-working, conforming factory workers. Innovation, initiative and creativity were not encouraged.

However, those days are long gone, and now anyone can learn to be more creative – and we’re not just talking works of art, here. Take, for example, the story of the invention of Velcro.

Creative people aren’t creative in everything. They are creative in specific areas of activity, a particular domain of knowledge. Psychologists now believe creativity is domain-specific — knowledge directly related to a think you’re currently learning about.

No one can be creative without first internalizing this domain-specific knowledge, which is why a certain level of education is now believed to be essential to creativity. It’s easier to be creative in a certain area when you have a good foundation of knowledge in that domain. That’s why we believe a good, well-rounded small business education is essential for success.

What are your favourite ways to foster creativity in your small business?