Creativity: The Caregiver's Secret Weapon

Creativity is not just a random occurrence. For creativity to occur, ability, intrinsic motivation and certain cognitive activities are needed. Following a consideration of the definition and assessment of creativity, a framework for understanding what occurs during the creative thinking process, how the caregiver, educator or helping professional can develop his or her creativity and find appropriate solutions to thorny or amorphous caregiving or managerial problems is presented here. Including distinctive attributes of creative individuals, ability, nature of creativity and the framework describes the way in which one's thinking as an explorer, artist, judge, and lawyer might contribute to improving creativity. The discussion emphasizes that the creative process occurs when people are properly motivated and highlights a set of guidelines for creative growth. Creativity must be put into practice before it can help either the individual or the organization.