What are the best ways to show that you are a creative thinker?

Creativity and innovation are highly valued skills in today's competitive and dynamic work environment. Whether you are applying for a new job, seeking a promotion, or proposing a project, you need to demonstrate that you can think outside the box, generate novel ideas, and solve problems effectively. But how can you show that you are a creative thinker? Here are some tips to help you showcase your creativity and innovation skills in various situations.

1 Use examples

One of the best ways to show that you are a creative thinker is to use specific examples from your previous or current work experience. Think of times when you came up with a new or improved solution, product, service, or process that benefited your team, organization, or customers. Explain how you identified the problem or opportunity, what steps you took to develop and implement your idea, and what results you achieved. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your examples clearly and concisely.

Add your perspective

Marcos Mayer

Marketing Director | Digital Transformation and Innovation Specialist | B2B Brand Strategist | +30 years of Experience
Report contribution
Sem dúvida, "matar a cobra e mostrar o pau" é algo extremamente importante. Porque você precisa recorrer aos momentos em que a sua criatividade fez a diferença, porque isso não acontece toda hora, nem com hora marcada.

Translated

Like

2 Ask questions

Another way to show that you are a creative thinker is to ask insightful and relevant questions that challenge the status quo, explore different perspectives, and stimulate curiosity. Asking questions shows that you are interested in learning, improving, and finding better ways to do things. It also helps you to understand the context, goals, and expectations of the situation, and to identify gaps, opportunities, and potential solutions. When asking questions, be respectful, open-minded, and constructive. Avoid questions that are too vague, obvious, or negative.

Add your perspective

Alexia Rowe

Playwright, Composer, Storyteller, Entrepreneur
Report contribution
According to Richard Branson the most successful business/creative ideas come out of frustration (or a curiosity) with the status quo and a need/drive to change or improve upon it. So perhaps a good way to ask a question about something you'd like to change or gain a different perspective on is "What if _______ was used to achieve ________ instead of ________?"

Like
Marcos Mayer

Marketing Director | Digital Transformation and Innovation Specialist | B2B Brand Strategist | +30 years of Experience
Report contribution
Fazer perguntas, dependendo do tipo de pergunta que você fizer, é um excelente sinal de que você está no seu processo criativo, o que quer dizer que você é uma pessoa que tem o pensamento criativo. Uma das coisas mais importantes no processo criativo é fazer a pergunta certa. Essa é a diferença entre alguém que é criativo e alguém que não é. Faça a pergunta certa e não pergunte apenas por perguntar.

Translated

Like

3 Brainstorm ideas

A third way to show that you are a creative thinker is to brainstorm ideas with others or by yourself. Brainstorming is a technique that allows you to generate as many ideas as possible in a short time, without judging or filtering them. Brainstorming can help you to expand your thinking, discover new possibilities, and combine or refine ideas. When brainstorming, follow some basic rules: set a clear and specific goal, encourage quantity and diversity of ideas, defer judgment and criticism, and build on others' ideas.

Add your perspective

Subhash Verma

Medical Physicist || Author of Anushasan ( अणुशासन )
Report contribution
To boost my creativity, - I generally read a lot. Rarding sparks many ideas in my mind. - I walk a lot, walking help me to build ideas into thinking process. - pen every rough idea, this help me to connect different ideas and plots.

Like
Marcos Mayer

Marketing Director | Digital Transformation and Innovation Specialist | B2B Brand Strategist | +30 years of Experience
Report contribution
Confesso que não sou um grande fã de brainstorming. Entretanto, sou um grande fã e defensor da ideação, da geração de uma grande quantidade de ideias antes de se tentar chegar à melhor ideia de todas. É quase a mesma coisa, mas o brainstorm hoje é mal compreendido e cada um faz o seu como acha que deve, o que descaracteriza um pouco o seu objetivo. Mas ter muitas ideias é algo extremamente importante no processo criativo.

Translated

Like

4 Experiment and test

A fourth way to show that you are a creative thinker is to experiment and test your ideas in practice. Experimenting and testing are essential steps to validate, improve, and refine your ideas, and to learn from feedback and failure. Experimenting and testing can help you to assess the feasibility, desirability, and viability of your ideas, and to identify and overcome challenges and risks. When experimenting and testing, follow some basic steps: define your assumptions and hypotheses, design and conduct small-scale tests, measure and analyze results, and iterate and adapt your ideas.

Add your perspective

5 Share and communicate

A fifth way to show that you are a creative thinker is to share and communicate your ideas effectively with others. Sharing and communicating your ideas can help you to gain support, collaboration, and recognition for your creativity and innovation. It can also help you to get feedback, suggestions, and input from others, and to learn from different perspectives and experiences. When sharing and communicating your ideas, follow some basic tips: tailor your message to your audience, use clear and compelling language, use visual aids and storytelling techniques, and invite questions and comments.

Add your perspective

Marcos Mayer

Marketing Director | Digital Transformation and Innovation Specialist | B2B Brand Strategist | +30 years of Experience
Report contribution
Esse é um ponto muito importante. Não basta você ser uma pessoa criativa. É importante que você consiga expressar suas ideias para que as pessoas percebam o valor que as suas ideias têm.

Translated

Like

6 Learn and improve

A sixth way to show that you are a creative thinker is to learn and improve your skills continuously. Creativity and innovation are not fixed or innate abilities, but skills that can be developed and enhanced with practice, training, and exposure. Learning and improving your skills can help you to keep up with the changing trends and demands of the work environment, and to discover new sources of inspiration and knowledge. When learning and improving your skills, follow some basic tips: seek feedback and mentoring, read and research widely, take courses and workshops, and try new things and challenges.

Add your perspective

Marcos Mayer

Marketing Director | Digital Transformation and Innovation Specialist | B2B Brand Strategist | +30 years of Experience
Report contribution
A criatividade é uma capacidade e, como tal, ela pode e deve ser desenvolvida. Todos temos um potencial criativo muito grande, mas nem todos desenvolvemos e colocamos a uso esse potencial. Então aprender e melhorar é algo extremamente importante, porque a nossa criatividade pode ser muito aguçada se nós a utilizarmos e sempre a desenvolvermos.

Translated

Like

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

Add your perspective

What are the best ways to show that you are a creative thinker?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Use examples

2 Ask questions

3 Brainstorm ideas

4 Experiment and test

5 Share and communicate

6 Learn and improve

7 Here’s what else to consider

Creativity Skills

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

More articles on Creativity Skills

More relevant reading

What are the best ways to show that you are a creative thinker?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Use examples

2 Ask questions

3 Brainstorm ideas

4 Experiment and test

5 Share and communicate

6 Learn and improve

7 Here’s what else to consider

Creativity Skills

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

Explore Other Skills