Page 69 - The Creative Training Idea Book Inspired Tips and Techniques for Engaging and Effective Learning

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58 The Creative Training Idea Book
AWAKENING YOUR CREATIVITY
Being effective at generating creative ideas requires examination of personal paradigms.
For example, if you are a person who takes a more pessimistic view of the world (e.g.,
the glass is half empty) versus an optimistic perspective (e.g., the glass is half full), your
creativity could be overshadowed. The first step to enhanced creativity is to recognize
and believe that you are a creative person.
Next, you must seek out and welcome opportunities to exercise your creativity (e.g.,
participate on committees or projects that require creative planning and problem-
solving; volunteer to deliver programs in which you can experiment with creative train-
ing techniques—Junior Achievement, religious groups, nonprofit organizations, or
professional groups). It is important to keep an open mind and use a variety of tech-
niques for generating alternatives and creative ideas. You can also participate in activities
that cause you to exercise your brain, such as board games or puzzles. Another way of
enhancing your creativity is to participate personally in (and use with your own partic-
ipants) interactive training techniques in which participants individually or collectively
work together to solve problems (e.g., Reality Oriented Performance Experiential Sys-
tem [ROPES], storyboarding, and simulations).

CREATIVITY ENABLERS

To enhance your creativity, or to get participants thinking outside the box, get back to
the basics by keeping in mind that we learn adult behaviors as children. Take time out
of your schedule to reconnect with your inner child in order to rekindle the creativity
flame. If you have children, raid their toy box or closet. If not, take an idea excursion to
a local toy or hobby store and just wander. Pick up toys and really look at them. Check
their features and how they operate. Think of what metaphors you can create to tie into
your training topics or how you can integrate them into activities or use them as rewards
in training. Select items that might cause you or learners to think, plan, organize, develop,
experiment, or strategize.
The key in making your selections, and in generating creative ideas, is to have fun.
People who have fun and enjoy what they do are typically more satisfied and productive.
Just as children learn as they play and have fun, so too can adults (after all, they already
know how because they learned the skill as children). Learning does not have to be
somber or boring. Some specific strategies for encouraging creativity and fun follow.

BRIGHT I DEA
Challenging Participant Creativity
o help rekindle the creative enthusiasm of childhood in your participants, build
Ta variety of activities early in your session. Start their creative juices going by
presenting a challenge in which small groups of learners work together to solve