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The Non-Obvious Guide to Being More Creative
Why do some people seem more creative, and how can you be one of them? How can you have a continuous flow of actionable new ideas at work? What does it take to think differently when you are surrounded by people who don't? This guidebook is filled with useful, immediately actionable advice for applying your best thinking at work. You will learn to harness your creativity so you "Uncork all those ideas you've got bottled up inside you with this smart and engaging guide. You'll understand where creativity comes from, what stands in its way (Hello, Impostor Syndrome!), and how to engender creativity in others. Any innovation starts with taking a risk, so take a risk on this book. It will pay off in creative dividends" - Daniel Pink, New York Times Bestselling author of When, Drive, A Whole New Mind "Your ability to be creative under pressure is what separates you from the pack. This book is full of practical tools and tips to help you unleash your creative brilliance." - Todd Henry, author of The Accidental Creative
239 pages, Paperback
Published September 10, 2019
5 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 12, 2019
Many of us who read books on creativity know that passion and skill are essential to the creative process. Author Kathryn Haydon defines creativity as “breaking through the ‘inertia of no’ by instructing how to seek new possibilities and valuable solutions.” Do you want to achieve more creative thinking for yourself, your work, corporation, department, committee or project? Then this is the book to dive into. It’s a how-to guide without being overwhelming or preachy. Haydon takes you through the training for you to BE a creative person. Which, I consider most important to successful creativity. You will discover how to overcome the barriers to creativity and shift your thinking. First chapters give you a rich foundation about creativity, but chapters 7, 8, 9 (POPIT tool), and 10 include specific tactics for staff discussions, team meetings, and brainstorming (Chapter 12 evaluates brainstorming vs. question-storming). Haydon also gives advice on how to handle criticism, feedback, and tame that inner critic’s voice. Backed by a wealth of research and her own experiences, Haydon provides key principles, case studies, and a wide range of strategies to achieve creative problem-solving. I’ve read several books on creativity from authors like Rollo May, Twyla Tharp, Scott Barry Kaufman, Julia Cameron. Kathryn Haydon writes a refreshing ‘how-to’ for everyone in the working world. I can see this book as part of a new employee’s corporate package along with company policies and benefits. Great gift for someone’s promotion or new job. Highly recommended. I received a complimentary digital copy of this book for review purposes.
September 15, 2019
When the book arrived I was going to take just a bit of time to give it a glance and then move on to my ‘to do’ list. It was fortuitous that I was unable to put the book down!
Upon returning to that ‘to do’ list, I applied some of what I learned from the book to my projects. Specifically, the items on my list that never seemed to go away were just too overwhelming. Being More Creative suggested a process to “turn problems into possibilities”. Just using that exercise with the difficult tasks on the list resulted in actually getting them done!
The book is packed with resources that I plan to delve into over time. It is a good one to refer back to when you want to inspire creativity in yourself and others. I plan to share copies with my friends and co-workers so we can all be a part of a creative ecosystem brilliantly portrayed in the book.
The Non-Obvious Guide to Being More Creative
Upon returning to that ‘to do’ list, I applied some of what I learned from the book to my projects. Specifically, the items on my list that never seemed to go away were just too overwhelming. Being More Creative suggested a process to “turn problems into possibilities”. Just using that exercise with the difficult tasks on the list resulted in actually getting them done!
The book is packed with resources that I plan to delve into over time. It is a good one to refer back to when you want to inspire creativity in yourself and others. I plan to share copies with my friends and co-workers so we can all be a part of a creative ecosystem brilliantly portrayed in the book.
The Non-Obvious Guide to Being More Creative
September 16, 2019
Haydon states that the vision that drove the creation of this guide was “It would be great if every worker in North America used this book as a manual to move forward toward possibility and growth.” (97) While a lofty goal, this guide is a terrific compilation and consolidation of research, thoughts of leading thinkers in the field, and personal anecdotes. It also emphatically proves that creativity is relevant in far more fields than just the arts.
The book is split into two main sections: the first about how to personally be more creative, and the second about how to build a more creative environment. I appreciated both, and it really makes this guide accessible and useful to all, regardless of their place in an org chart. There are strategies that should be added over a long period of time, and, perhaps more beneficial, there are tools a reader can implement at a meeting the very next day.
This guide is a fantastic primer for creative thinking. I would encourage any team that wants to add more creativity and idea generation to read this together.
The book is split into two main sections: the first about how to personally be more creative, and the second about how to build a more creative environment. I appreciated both, and it really makes this guide accessible and useful to all, regardless of their place in an org chart. There are strategies that should be added over a long period of time, and, perhaps more beneficial, there are tools a reader can implement at a meeting the very next day.
This guide is a fantastic primer for creative thinking. I would encourage any team that wants to add more creativity and idea generation to read this together.
September 29, 2019
It doesn't take reading many sentences to gain confidence in Haydon's expertise in creative thinking. Readers feel assured of the innate potential we have to think creatively and to translate creativity into innovation. This book is an explosion of ideas on how to reveal the creative problem-solver in each of us regardless of our age, career, or talents. Haydon explains that creative expression is already a "present possibility." Backed by science, Haydon has developed easy-to-follow exercises that unleash the flexible and original thinking needed bring about meaningful change in ourselves, and others.
August 31, 2019
Have you ever heard that your friend’s job is something you’d love to do better and then invited them out for coffee to get advice? This book is just like going out for coffee with an expert in creativity! I like how this book is full of tips and tricks to apply creativity to problem solving at work and at home. The book is filled with vignettes and practical steps to use creativity in your life. I have read other books by this author and this is my favorite because I know I can use what I have learned and will want to keep looking back to glean more ideas.
September 4, 2019
Thanks to Kathryn giving me a pre-release copy of this book, I can say what an easy read this was, with so many tools and resources to get on your journey to creativity. The book shares easy to follow steps on how to explore your creativity strengths and goes further to share different vignettes on how it has been applied in the real world. I look forward to utilizing the 'reverse brainstorming' technique and coming up with 'possibility questions' to re-frame the challenges I currently have to not only solve my issue but to enjoy the creative process. I'd recommend this book to be on everyone's bookshelves, especially schools -- middle school and beyond. I'd willingly participate in more meetings if the exercises in this book were present each time.
August 31, 2019
The Non-Obvious Guide to Being More Creative is a book that everyone needs to read! As a business owner, I didn't realize just how important creativity is in each part of my business (and life). This book is a wonderful guidebook to help you grow your creativity, be more effective in your role and expand your horizons. I highly recommend it!
November 21, 2019
I recently had the opportunity to hear this author speak at an event and she is the most engaging speaker, ever! The book begins by pulling us in with a story about shoe shopping and it introduced the subject perfectly. I think this book will be a blessing to me and fit right in with my new enlightened approach to marketing.
Cynthia Wetzler
Cynthia Wetzler
April 1, 2020
A helpful guide to jumpstart an interest in creativity. Provides foundational information for those beginning the journey.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews