Page 86 - The Creative Training Idea Book Inspired Tips and Techniques for Engaging and Effective Learning

lucas chap 02 11/20/02 11:38 AM Page 75
Provide Positive Self-Affirmations Lighting the Creativity Lamp 75
Negative self-talk can lead to decreased self-respect and lowered confidence. It can also
ultimately lead to decreased personal effectiveness. To counter such possible negative
results, give yourself some positive strokes throughout your day (e.g., “I am a creative
person,” “I can do a better job by being creative,” or “ My ideas are valuable”).

Attend Creativity Courses

Identify and participate in training sessions that address creative training techniques
and/or in which the facilitator models such strategies. Make notes of approaches that
you like and can modify for your own sessions. In your training adapt what you learned
to your own style and situation in order to add new dimensions to your delivery.

Read Books
There are many books (see Resources for Trainers in the appendices) on creativity, cre-
ative training techniques and strategies, creative thinking, and creative problem-solving.
Build a library of these books and use them to stimulate your own creative processes
regularly. If you borrow an activity or material from a book, ensure that you appropri-
ately site the copyright owner to prevent claims of copyright infringement that can dis-
credit you and your organization professionally.

Take Up a Creative Hobby

You often gain ideas for training through creativity in other areas. For example, if you
started cartooning as a hobby, you could easily adapt the skill to develop material for
your participant training materials, classes, and visual aids. Working crossword puzzles
or reading mystery novels can also challenge and stimulate your brain.

Keep a Daily Journal

You likely get creative ideas at various times during the day related to how you can im-
prove training materials or content. Have a pad and pen nearby (e.g., next to your bed,
in your car, or on your desk) so that you can capture such ideas or thoughts. These pro-
vide a visual record when you have time to go back to review them and begin blending
them into your programs or training strategies.
The key to effective creativity is to be willing to take a chance, try something new
and do things that have a direct correlation to your sessions. Letting past experience and
beliefs stand in the way of using new strategies or techniques is not helping you or
your learners.