What is Business Writing? Simply Communication Between Two People
The business writing that often comes to mind is probably business plans, sales materials, advertising, reports, and email.
However, the definition of what is business writing reads, “the communication of ideas, information, directions or instructions between at least two people that focuses on the reader and the purpose of the communication.”
Over the years, I found that business writing is simply communication between two people. It is me, communicating to you, in a direct, simple, and purposeful way.
How is business writing different?
Business writing is different because it is direct and straightforward.
According to Ohio University, a Princeton University study, “Consequences of Erudite Vernacular Utilized Irrespective of Necessity: Problems with Using Long Words Needlessly,” found that undergraduates use more complex words in papers to sound more intelligent. However, according to researchers, this strategy achieves the opposite effect.
Think about it for a moment; long words tend to bog the mind down. You stop to think about that one word. When you do, you can lose the meaning of the overall message intent.
The first tip to becoming a better business writer is to “write to express not to impress.” Business writing is different because it’s simple and concise.
Throw out the English term paper or MBA Thesis language. Express yourself clearly, simply and in a direct way, and you will communicate better to your business reader.
Your business writing style
Do you labor on about details? Do you intentionally use complex words to impress?
I’m sure you don’t. More than likely you concisely present your ideas, add your personality and flair, bring emotion and conviction in to play, and clearly and concisely express your point of view.
Now, take that same principle and apply it to your business writing.
One of the easiest ways to improve your writing (and make business writing enjoyable) is to write the same way you talk. However, instead of talking, put your idea on paper.
If you’re a strong typist, key it into a word processing document.
If you’re not a great typist, use a legal pad and write your ideas down. Then add your written words into a word processing document after the fact.
You can even record your ideas as you speak them. Save the recording and turn it over to a transcription service to create a word processing document you can edit and use in your written communication.
You can find reasonably priced transcription services on Fiverr and other freelancing websites.
While it will take practice to build confidence as you develop your unique writing style, the quickest path is to write the same way you talk. Express ideas as if you were talking to a trusted colleague.
When you do, the businesspeople you communicate with will give you their trust, because your business writing feels authentic, and authenticity is the quickest path to trust and credibility building.
How to build confidence in your business writing
Here’s how to overcome writer’s block and get your ideas down efficiently.
Start with one sentence. What is the topic of the information you are you going to communicate?
Under that, jot down 3 to 5 sub-points about your topic.
Inside of the 3 to 5 sub-points jot down 3 points you’ll discuss in each idea.
Now you have an outline. All you need to do is fill in the blanks to create your written communication.
Remember to write the same way you talk.
Realize that when you start to commit your thoughts to paper, you’ll be worried about grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and other things you learned through your educational system.
At this early stage, don’t think about writing mechanics. I’ll show you a powerful tool that will take away all your technical writing worries in a moment.
The only way to become is a better writer is to write – commit words to paper. Once you have your thoughts on paper, it’s time to polish your writing.
The most powerful tool I’ve found for editing is called Grammarly . It is your AI-powered writing assistant.
With 20 million people using the tool it is proven to work well. Grammarly will correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar, plus writing style and tone.
Grammarly helps you eliminate errors and find the perfect words to express yourself in email and messages, documents and projects, and even social media.
Grammarly is free to use and works with the Chrome browser. It gives you confidence and helps you overcome worry about perfect writing.
Now you can write the same way you talk. Then let Grammarly correct errors and improve your writing.
Keep your writing simple and be specific
In it, they noted that style is how you express an idea. It is not the substance of the concept. The style consists of words the writer uses and how the writer combines those words into sentences, paragraphs, and complete messages.
In the first draft, they suggested that you don’t worry about style but focus on content instead.
I found a great way to do that is to outline the idea, as we talked about earlier, then write, by filling in the blanks of the outline you created. In other words, “talk” on paper, get the idea out of your head and into written form.
Then make revisions where you focus on the style. Here is where you’ll use Grammarly to make revisions stress free and dare I say, even enjoyable.
Here’s how you can stay focused on the essential elements of business writing.
Seek to express rather than to impress. Remember, complex words tend to bog the mind down and minimize engagement with your message.
Write clearly and concisely. Be accurate and complete and use familiar words.
Use more straightforward language and sentence structure. Eliminate wordiness and keep your writing simple and direct.
Use active voice and recommend action in your written business communication. Avoid using we believe, we think, we imagine – Grammarly will help you here.
Convey an appropriate tone. Be courteous and sincere and use positive language.
The shortest path to becoming an accomplished business writer
However, when you write as you learned through education, your business writing becomes stiff, boring, and ineffective.
Keep your business writing clear, concise, and straightforward. It will be easier to understand. It also builds trust and credibility. Plus simple, clear, and concise writing is more effective.
Don’t stress about the mechanics of writing. Use AI-powered Grammarly to ensure your written communication is compelling and error-free.
What have you struggled with most in your business writing? I’ll be happy to answer questions or provide ideas that can help.
Leave a comment below with any questions. If you have a business writing tip you’ve used before, feel free to share it too.
11 thoughts on “What is Business Writing? Simply Communication Between Two People”
I couldn’t agree with you more, there are times where I had to spend much time on the meaning of a word whiles searching for a solution to my problems on websites. It makes me think for a second….who’s is this blogger writing for? I guess not me so I live the website usually…..
As you rightly said, it’s very easy to flow when writing in a conversational form rather than trying to prove to readers that you’ve got the dictionary in your head. Personally, I do struggle a lot when trying to write in such a way and I’m glad you’ve pointed out in your article. Thanks
Isn’t that the truth? Get the brain thinking ‘who’s it for’ and it always responds with “not for me.” Interesting isn’t it?
I learned that one way to get the “conversational” writing flow going is to stop writing and start recording. Record what you have to say about a topic and then transcribe it. You won’t be able to help writing in a conversation style doing it that way.
After doing that several times, I’ll bet the conversational style of writing will also creep into your written words naturally.
Thank you Bill. I think this is a great article. Formatted very well and very smooth to read. I am starting a website and one thing that helped me with my writing was that each article is sort of like interactive with the people who read it because people actually comment on my articles and asked me to clarify stuff and all that kind of stuff. So it really helps.
I like the idea that you can just use a communicating style in your writing instead of having to worry so much about perfect writing structure and all of that kind of stuff.
I think my secret to being able to write is that I don’t think a lot about writing technique. I just sort of let the ideas flow out and sometimes I polish up the structure a little but I don’t get jammed up with writing technique. Another way of putting it would be that I let go of perfectionism. Anyway you have a great website here and I’ll probably be back again soon. Happy writing and take care.
Thanks for your comment, Charles. Since you’re getting comments, it sounds like your writing style is connecting to your readers well. You know, I think there is a huge advantage to NOT having a lot of writing training.
It’s the same in art – people who study a topic seem to have trouble breaking free of the “rules” and doing their own thing. Keep talking TO your audience and I’m sure you’ll see great engagement. Good luck.
I totally agree with this. I’ve tried writing articles with the intent of showcasing my vocabulary, but somehow, I was unable to connect well with my readers. It took some time for me to realize that what keeps readers glued to my articles is not the complexity of my sentences, but it’s the simplicity of how I organized the information I’m sharing. Even with your post right here, I managed to read it in a few minutes because it’s direct to the point! And, yes, Grammarly is a big help too!
Spot on, Ron. Simple is easy to read. Make it hard to read and understand and your reader/listener runs out the door quickly. The Grammarly writers tool saves time in editing and polishing docs. It sounds like you’re a fan too.
Hi Bill Gluth
Thanks a lot for sharing such an important and unique content to us. I really didn’t know that how to express a business idea with others people through business writing. Some times we forgot our ideas as we don’t write it or record it. But I learnt from here that if we write our business ideas it will work as a reminder. But we should use the very simple and specific words to express our idea to other people.
As I knew many important direction about business writing I will definitely share this post with my friends and family.
Thanks again.
Thanks for your insights Monalisha. So true, writing ideas down is the ONLY way to make sure you remember them, so they can ‘get done.’ That’s the hard part, isn’t it?
I’m pleased you’ll share this post with friends and family. I hope you’ll also share the writing secret weapon, Grammarly , I talked about in the article. It is a HUGE help in making business writing easer and more impacting.
Thank you Bill, this is really a great article and it is of great help to my writing
You made an interesting point when you mentioned that the only way to become a better business writer is to actually write. If you are trying to become a better business writer, would it be a good idea to hire a proofreader? I would think that a proofreader would be able to help you identify common mistakes you make and help you develop better habits.
Yes, Henry, I agree that a proofreader will help create better writing habits quicker than a business owner could do independently. Thanks very much for your comment and insights.
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Business Studies: CREATIVE THINKING & PROBLEM SOLVING
Kurt Bailey
At the end of this lesson you should be able to:
• Explain the meaning of creative thinking.
• Discuss/Describe/Explain the advantages/benefits of creative thinking in the workplace.
• Explain how businesses can use creative thinking to generate entrepreneurial opportunities.
• Discuss how businesses can use creative thinking to solve business problems.
Introduction:
Businesses have to solve many problems as they confront the challenges of dynamic and complex business environments. Businesses need to find ways to break out from routine thinking in order to solve problems and make decisions.
Recently all businesses, locally and abroad, were confronted with the challenges that was brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic This forced them to come up with new/innovative ideas to survive. Just consider how the restaurant industry, which is one of many, was adversely affected. As a result of the declaration of a state of disaster, restaurants could no longer open up their doors for patrons to come and sit down. Consequently, most of them have resorted to taking orders online and/or telephonically and then deliver to the clients.
Solving problems requires businesses to apply creative and critical thinking skills.
The key focus of this lesson will be on:
i) How Creative thinking can contribute towards successful and sustainable business practice. We will also be looking at ii) How Creative thinking can be used to generate entrepreneurial opportunities and solve business problems.
CONCEPTS AND SKILLS
- 1. Make sure that you know the key concept(s):
Creative thinking - The thought process that leads to original/novel/new ideas/new approaches. Use of non-conventional methods to solve problems. Breaking out of routine thinking.
Routine thinking - Sequence of actions or patterns of behaviour that is regularly followed or rehearsed.
Conventional solutions - Solutions based on what is generally done, believed or conformed to.
Non-conventional ideas - Solutions based on what is not generally done, believed or conformed to.
Problem solving - Alternative solutions are generated/ identified and critically evaluated. Analysing a situation to identify strategies to bring about change.
Decision making - Various alternatives are considered before choosing the best one. It is part of the problem solving cycle as decisions need to be made in each step.
Innovative - The process of translating an idea or invention into a good or service that creates value or for which customers will pay.
Challenge/Threat - A problem/obstacle that can prevent you from achieving a goal.
Opportunity - A time or set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something
Business Opportunity - Is a business investment that allows the buyer to start a business.
- 2. Core Content: • Make sure that you know / understand and are able to apply the CORE CONTENT. Pay particular attention to the cognitive levels. The cognitive verbs serve as a guide for how to answer the questions.
- 3. Discuss how businesses can use creative thinking to solve business problems.
- 4. Elaborate on the meaning of problem solving.
- 5. Explain the differences between decision making and problem solving
- 6. Outline/Mention /Discuss/Explain/ the problem solving cycle.
1.1.Complete the following statement by using the word(s) in the list below. Write only the word(s) next to the question number.
1.1.1 The …. process requires creative thinking skills to generate and evaluate alternative solutions. (2)
1.1.2 …. refers to the process in which various alternatives are considered before deciding on the (2) best one.
2.1 Read the scenario below and answer the questions that follows:
2.1.1 Define creative thinking. (2)
2.1.2 Explain the advantages/benefits of creative thinking in the workplace for businesses like Google. (10)
2.1.3 Discuss ANY FOUR steps in the problem-solving-cycle that Google can follow to solve their problems. (12)
2.1.4 Explain how Google can use creative thinking to generate entrepreneurial opportunities. (6)
In Conclusion
• Constant changes in the market impact on business operations and so they need to adapt to it quickly and make quick/creative decisions.
• Creative thinking can help to solve business problems successfully.
• In part two of Creative thinking and Problem-solving the emphasis will be on the Problem-solving techniques businesses can use to solve many problems as they confront the challenges of dynamic and complex business environments.
• 2020 Grade 10 Business Studies Core Notes: Business Roles: Creative thinking and Problem-solving, Pages 3-6
• Via Afrika Business Studies Grade 11 Learner's Book
• Platinum Business Studies Grade 11 Learner's Book
• Oxford Successful Business Studies Grade 11 Learner's Book
• Solutions for a Business Studies Grade 11 Learner's Book
• Focus Business Studies Grade 11 Learner's Book
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Learn how to generate, evaluate and select creative ideas and solutions., “creativity is intelligence having fun.” albert einstein.
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Creative Thinking For Business Success
24 Nov Creative Thinking For Business Success
Creative thinking will save your business – and it might just save our economy, too. Imagination generates innovation which gives your business its competitive edge. The most recent neuroscience reasearch supports the idea that creativity is fundamental to the success of any business.
The good news is that even if you don’t think of yourself as a “creative person”, creativity is a natural part of how the brain works. It’s like a muscle you can strengthen with the right tools. These aren’t skills many of us learned in school, but anyone can master them.
In an environment where big box retailers flourish, creativity is central to the survival of any small business. As entrepreneurs or solopreneurs, we must find ways to stay nimble, adaptive, and innovative. Boosting creativity is the answer.
Here are the top 10 reasons why juicing up your creativity is fundamental to your business success:
- Creative thinking helps you to see opportunities in the marketplace or come up with a unique solution to a problem—and isn’t this the cornerstone of any business?
- Creativity is key to innovation. When issues come up, you’ll be able to think of ways over, under, or through the roadblocks.
- Creativity stimulates the brain and helps us to wake up and pay attention. Noticing more of what’s around us aids in developing novel approaches to help your business stand out.
- Creative thinking helps you keep your business presence fresh. You’ll be able to constantly reinvent your business in order to stay in your customers’ awareness.
- Creativity helps you shift your perception so you can better understand your customers’ point of view.
- Creativity gives you a higher tolerance for risk—you’re used to working through fear of failure.
- Creativity improves your leadership skills. Being an effective leader means being creative in your approach and problem-solving. When you have the capacity to let go of the outcome and be open to out-of-the-box thinking, you free your business team up for generating new ideas.
- Creativity helps you to broaden your vision of what it means to be successful in your business—what it can offer to the world.
- Creativity strengthens your resilience. When those inevitable stressful periods come up, you’re able to bounce back faster instead of getting derailed.
- Creativity invites flow and feels good, and when you feel good, you attract your ideal customers and clients.
Can you creatively think of even more ways that creativity can help your business?
Emmanuel Eshun
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What Is Creative Thinking and Why Does It Matter?
Creative thinking is the ability to be open to new ideas, concepts, and possibilities. Creative thinking allows you to look at something from a different perspective or make connections between seemingly unrelated things. Creative thinkers think outside the box and can take the most ordinary situations and find solutions that haven’t been thought of before.
We’re used to thinking about creative thinking in terms of art and design. But there’s a surprising amount of overlap between these two areas, and design is essential for innovation. If you want to innovate, you need to think creatively. But why is it so important? Because innovation requires taking risks .
You must be willing to go outside your comfort zone. And to do that, you need to be willing to think differently. So when we say creativity matters, we’re not just talking about visual or artistic creativity. When you innovate, you need to think more creatively than your competitors. Creativity isn’t limited to the arts. We can find it in nearly every aspect of life as it’s the foundation of innovation.
We live in a world where we are constantly bombarded with stimuli. We are inundated with information and ideas. We often lack the time, skills, and resources to sort through the clutter and get the best insights and information. The result is that we are left feeling overwhelmed and confused.
In this article, I’ll discuss creative thinking and how it can help you work smarter, not harder, so you can develop the skill of sorting through the data and creating insights.
What Is Creative Thinking?
Creative thinking is the ability to generate ideas and solutions to problems. It’s a skill that allows us to create, innovate, and solve the everyday challenges that confront us. We often consider creative thinking to be a talent or something that comes naturally to some people, but the fact is, we all possess this innate ability.
Creative thinking plays a significant role in our daily lives and can contribute to our success in work and life. Creative thinking can lead to breakthroughs in our personal and professional lives and improve how we live and work together.
The more we practice creative thinking, the more skilled we become at generating solutions to problems, identifying new ideas, and developing innovative ideas. When we learn to harness creative thinking, we develop skills and abilities that enhance our overall health and well-being.
There are four stages of creative thinking:
During Stage 1, we focus on problems. We ask ourselves what the problem is and look for a solution. If there isn’t a specific solution to the problem, we try to identify some criteria that will help us find a solution.
In Stage 2, we start to explore solutions. We start to consider all of the possibilities available to us, and we begin to consider the feasibility and viability of the ideas.
During Stage 3, we narrow down the range of options we’ve explored and examine the merits of the various ideas. For example, we consider whether a new idea would provide more value than the current solution.
Finally, during Stage 4, we select the best idea. This stage requires us to weigh each option’s pros and cons and decide which one will be the best choice.
What Does Creative Thinking Help Us Do?
- Hutchinson, Eliot D (Author)
- 06/01/2023 (Publication Date) – ABINGDON PRESS * (Publisher)
When we practice creative thinking, we develop a range of abilities that help us succeed in our lives. These include:
Problem Solving
We can use creative thinking to solve problems. In Stage 1, we identify the problem, and we consider what it is that needs to change. In Stage 2, we start to devise ways to address the problem. In Stage 3, we narrow the range of possible solutions and decide on the best idea. In Stage 4, we select the best solution.
Finding Solutions
Creative thinking helps us find solutions to problems. When faced with a challenge, we can use creative thinking to generate ideas that will help us find a solution.
Analysing Solutions
We can use creative thinking to analyse the merits of solutions. For example, we can ask ourselves, “Would this new solution provide greater value than the current one?” Or, “Is this idea feasible?”
We can use creative thinking to come up with new ideas. In Stage 1, we ask ourselves what the problem is and what it is that needs to change. In Stage 2, we explore all possible solutions we can come up with. In Stage 3, we narrow the range of possible ideas and decide on the best option. Finally, in Stage 4, we select the best idea.
Improving Relationships
We can use creative thinking to improve relationships. In Stage 1, we identify the relationship we want to improve and consider how to do so. In Stage 2, we look for ways to approach the relationship to facilitate a positive experience. In Stage 3, we choose a solution that will improve the relationship, and in Stage 4, we implement it.
Creating Something New
We can use creative thinking to create something new. In Stage 1, we consider the new thing we want to create. In Stage 2, we consider the components required to bring our idea to life. In Stage 3, we narrow down the range of possible components and choose the ones that best serve our goal. Finally, in Stage 4, we select the best component and use it to complete the idea.
Why Creative Thinking Matters
While some people are more naturally creative, it’s not something you’re born with. Instead, it’s a process that’s influenced by our environment, our upbringing, and the way we learn.
Creativity is a skill that you can learn. The more time and effort we spend using our brain’s natural capacity to innovate and generate ideas, the better equipped we are to make essential decisions, solve problems, and succeed in our careers.
Here’s why you need to be a creative thinker:
We constantly face new challenges and opportunities, and how we respond to them depends on how well we understand them. We are forced to solve problems that are complex and sometimes wholly unexpected. In these situations, we need to use creativity to identify possible solutions, weigh options, and decide which path to follow.
We also need creativity to build things we’ve never seen before. From inventing new products and services to developing novel ways of doing things, creative thinking helps us adapt to change and innovate in new ways. It makes it possible to be successful and thrive in the world of work.
But just thinking creatively isn’t enough to succeed. How do you turn an idea into a reality? It takes more than just thinking.
You need to think carefully and thoroughly about the problem and your solution. You also need to put ideas to work through the execution process.
And you’ll need a team of collaborators to help you test and refine your ideas. Creativity is only helpful if it’s executed well.
What Is the Best Way to Develop Your Creative Thinking Skills?
- Fletcher, Angus (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 103 Pages – 09/15/2021 (Publication Date) – Independently published (Publisher)
It depends. In some situations, there are clear best practices and rules of thumb. In others, it’s much less noticeable. But one thing is true for everyone: the more time and energy you devote to developing your creative thinking skills, the better prepared you’ll be for whatever challenges you face.
So, where should you start?
Start by taking the time to think deeply about the problems you encounter at work, at home, or school.
Consider the following questions to help you understand and develop your creative thinking skills:
- What’s the problem I’m facing, and what’s the opportunity or challenge it presents?
- What assumptions am I making that might limit me in thinking creatively?
- What are some alternatives to how I’m currently solving the problem, and which of them might make it easier to achieve a solution?
- What might happen if I try a new approach to the problem? What would be the potential advantages, and what would be the potential disadvantages?
- How can I gather the information that will help me solve this problem?
- Are there any tools or resources available that could help me in my efforts to find solutions?
- How can I get feedback from others to help me evaluate different approaches and their merits?
- Where could I get training or other support for my efforts to solve this problem?
- Whom can I work with who may be able to offer insights that will help me to solve the problem?
- What other problems might I need to solve to get the job done?
- How can I evaluate the success of my solutions and the impact of my decisions?
- Are there any new developments or trends that I need to consider in solving the problem?
- Can I create a plan to manage the risks of trying a new solution?
- How can I ensure that the proposed solutions are feasible, effective, and potential for a high return on investment?
- How can I anticipate and prepare for any potential problems, such as risks, that might arise due to my actions?
Once you’ve considered the questions above, you may want to explore some new approaches and ideas in your personal life. This is a great time to think about some of the things you want to accomplish and the creative solutions you’d like to use to solve the problems you face.
Now that you know some of the benefits of being a creative thinker, and some of the best ways to develop your skills, it’s time to look at ways you can use your creative thinking in the context of your career.
What Can Creative Thinking Do for Your Career?
As mentioned, having a creative mind is essential to finding and creating new ideas and can also be beneficial when faced with the challenges of your career.
Consider the following examples of ways that you can use your creative thinking skills to improve your career:
When choosing a career, consider what type of work excites you. You may want to consider a role where you can apply your creativity, such as a software developer , researcher, or journalist.
Develop your skills and knowledge. Whether reading, listening to podcasts, or going to conferences, actively engage in learning activities that will help you become a more valuable asset.
Take advantage of the flexibility that your career offers. Choosing when, how long, and even when you work can significantly benefit creativity.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you find that your creativity is holding you back from being successful in life, don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are many people out there who are willing to help you succeed in your endeavours. Don’t let yourself be limited by what you think you are capable of doing. The world is full of things you have never done before, but this doesn’t mean you are incapable of doing them. It just means that you haven’t yet done them.
The Importance Of Creativity
- Ray, Michael (Author)
- 240 Pages – 01/24/1989 (Publication Date) – Main Street Books (Publisher)
To survive and thrive in this world, constantly creating something new is essential. Whether making music, writing a book, or inventing a new product, you must come up with something that others have never seen before.
Creativity is essential to any business, and you should use creativity to your advantage. By continuously working on improving your creative process, you’ll grow as a person and as a professional.
So, how do you go about using creativity? Three main things can help you build up your creative muscle:
1. Focus on creativity.
When you think about it, there are many different ways to express yourself creatively. You can write a novel, compose a song, create art, or develop new ideas. You can even come up with ways to solve problems or find new solutions to existing ones.
Whatever you do, just keep working on it. Try a new writing technique or find a new way to improve your artwork. Your creativity will only improve if you constantly try to improve it.
2. Make sure you practice and take criticism.
The most important thing to remember about practising and taking criticism is that it doesn’t matter how good you are or how much talent you have. You won’t see improvement if you don’t put in the time and effort to perfect your craft.
By practising every day, even just a little bit, you can improve your skill level and gain the confidence to take feedback from others.
Criticism is also an integral part of the creative process. If you take feedback well, you’ll be able to incorporate it into your work and make improvements. By listening to your critics, you’ll be able to identify your strengths and weaknesses, which is essential when you want to continue doing what you love.
3. Find inspiration.
The best way to develop your creative skills is to find ways to express yourself and your feelings. You can learn from other creatives by looking at the work of others and by finding your unique style.
For example, you can look at famous musicians or artists to get inspiration. When they created their original works, they could use the ideas and creativity that flowed from them.
You can also take inspiration from your favourite books, films, or video games . These forms of entertainment often involve creative characters or situations you can relate to.
Regardless of where you find your inspiration, make sure you’re open to it. It can sometimes feel like only a few options are available for what you could do or express. But the more you try different things, the more inspiration you’ll find.
When you’re not doing any of these things, you’re bound to run into roadblocks that prevent you from reaching your full potential as a creative person. So, if you’re struggling to find inspiration or your creativity isn’t as strong as it could be, these three things can help you.
How To Get Creative
1. Start with the basics.
If you want to get creative, you need to get started. The first step is to do something simple. For example, get a guitar and a mic if you want to start making music. Don’t try to jump straight into a complex project, or it will be too overwhelming for you. Start with the basics and progress from there.
2. Learn a new skill.
If you want to get creative, then you must have an understanding of the creative process. You need to understand the rules, the tools, and the mindset that make a creative person.
Learning a new skill is a great way to gain this understanding and increase your creative ability. For example, if you’re unfamiliar with video editing software , you can watch videos online or get an inexpensive laptop to edit photos and videos on your own.
3. Talk about your creative endeavours.
If you want to become more creative, it helps to get outside yourself. Talking to someone with a similar interest can give you ideas and inspire you to try new things.
For example, you could talk to people who have an interest in your chosen creative endeavour or go to creative gatherings.
The best way to become creative is to constantly try new things, make mistakes, and learn from mistakes.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a musician, writer, or designer. You should use your creativity to make the world a better place.
If you can bring a little creativity into your daily life, it can add more value to your life and make your experience more enjoyable. And it doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out or already have a creative hobby. You can continually expand your creative pursuits to help you enjoy life a little more.
The Difference between Critical and Creative Thinking
Critical thinking involves logical analysis and careful reasoning. It is an essential life skill that helps us identify and evaluate information and data to make decisions. On the other hand, creative thinking is much more instinctive, allowing you to come up with solutions to problems without any previous thought.
Critical thinking is used in many ways in every area of life. For example, doctors and engineers use it to diagnose disease, lawyers use it to evaluate evidence, and artists use it to create new ideas.
Creative thinking is used in all areas of life, including the arts and humanities. Artists use it to create works of art, writers use it to develop ideas , and scientists use it to invent new ways of doing things.
Creative thinking is the core of innovation, which is the key to solving the world’s most pressing problems. Companies are investing billions of dollars into developing new products and technologies because they recognise that innovative thinkers are the source of long-term competitive advantage.
Critical thinking is used to solve problems through the application of logic. When used correctly, it enables us to reach the correct conclusions and solve complex problems.
Creative thinking is more instinctive, intuitive, and emotional. It allows us to look at a problem or situation from a different angle and to come up with ideas that might be overlooked.
It may surprise you that we use creative thinking all the time. We always make decisions based on intuition, emotion, and subconscious clues. For example, when conversing with someone and can’t remember what you wanted to say, it’s likely because you used creative thinking.
You probably wouldn’t ask someone if you wanted to hear them talk about their family or if you wanted to hear about their personal goals. But you would certainly ask if you wanted to hear about their work. Creative thinking is used daily to solve problems and develop new ideas.
Its Link To Entrepreneurship And Business
Creative thinking skills are what separate entrepreneurs from everyone else. Creative thinkers have a unique ability to look at a problem and create something new to solve that problem. Whether it’s a new idea, product, or service, a creative thinker can identify a problem, develop a plan of action to fix it, and then execute that plan.
There are four areas of creative thinking that entrepreneurs need to tap into to run their businesses. These include:
Problem-Solving
In entrepreneurship, problem-solving is an essential skill. It’s the process of identifying problems and finding solutions to them. This is why creative thinkers are among the most valuable employees for entrepreneurs. Creative thinkers can take a step back and examine a situation, often identifying a solution to a problem.
Creative thinkers can take a complex issue and break it down into minor parts, allowing them to see a problem from several angles. Their minds are filled with creative ideas and innovative ways to solve problems.
Creative thinkers can be found in any field. They are the people who think outside of the box to solve problems and find new ways to tackle old challenges. Entrepreneurs who leverage creative thinkers are likelier to come up with breakthroughs and new opportunities.
Creative Concept Generation
One of the most powerful things a creative thinker can do is generate new ideas. When faced with a challenge, it’s easy to start brainstorming and thinking up solutions. But the problem is that many of the ideas we come up with are just that – ideas. Frequently, we can’t fully realise the best solutions until someone steps up to implement the ideas.
With creative thinking, it’s essential to know how to generate new ideas. Two methods work well:
- Brainstorming
- Creative Thinking
The key to brainstorming is opening your mind and thinking outside the box. Don’t worry about how original your ideas are. Just write down every idea that comes to mind. If you’re working with a team, you can help each other by keeping a list of potential solutions and noting the strengths and weaknesses of each.
Creative thinking is a bit different from brainstorming. In this case, you want to focus on a specific goal and generate as many unique and fresh ideas as possible. For example, brainstorming might be the wrong strategy if your business sells an existing product. Instead, you might use creative thinking to generate as many different marketing ideas as possible to identify the most effective one.
Once you have generated a handful of creative ideas, it’s time to evaluate which ones to pursue.
Creative Execution
We often get so focused on the creative side of things that we forget the other half of the equation: execution. Sometimes, you won’t be able to execute a new idea flawlessly. The best ideas sometimes aren’t even fully formed. The goal is to make the best plan possible and execute it.
Execution is also about focusing on what you have control over. Too often, we waste time thinking about things that aren’t in our control. Instead, we should focus on what we can and should do to get things done.
Creative thinkers are highly valuable for entrepreneurs. The reason is simple: they are the only ones always thinking of new ways to solve problems. With creative thinkers, it’s never too early or too late to innovate.
Creativity is a broad term that can mean different things to different people. It’s a skill that you can develop through practice, but you can’t expect to be naturally creative.
The truth is that the world around us is changing at an unprecedented pace. And while technology has been enabling us to accomplish more in a shorter amount of time, it’s also becoming increasingly harder to distinguish yourself from the crowd.
This is why using your creativity to build a successful business is essential. And since the market is so competitive, you’ll need to be able to differentiate yourself from your competition.
That’s where creativity comes in. It enables you to be original and stand out from the rest. And without it, you’ll never be able to build a sustainable business .
Check out these resources on how to think creatively!
Last update on 2023-05-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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Improve Creative Thinking and Get Win-Win Deals
The best deals in business are win-win deals. Finding such deals requires thinking differently than the average person. If you are an entrepreneur or investor you’ll be more successful if you know how to Improve your creative thinking in business.
If you do an online search for creative thinking you’ll find suggestions like “re-conceptualize the problem,” “create psychological distance,” “surround yourself with blue.” That may be fine for artsy people, but for entrepreneurs, investors, and all other business minded people, we need something more practical.
- When it Comes to Personal Finance, You’ve Almost Got It
- The ‘what if’ trick
- How the ‘what if’ trick improves creative thinking
- Experts on creative thinking
How Creative Thinking Helps in Getting Win-Win Deals
How to improve your creative thinking in business – example.
- Creative thinking is more than just daydreaming
- Take a small step immediately
Every What if Scenario Could be a Win-Win Deal
When it comes to personal finance, you almost got it.
I suspect most of our readers are well on their way in the construction of their bridge to financial freedom . Chances are you are well aware that there is a better way to financial freedom than working for wages and you’ve been positioning yourself for success.
As such, you’ve been reducing your expenses, increasing savings and you’ve been contributing to your 401K retirement account. Most likely you have also established an investment account, where you have been investing in a few good mutual funds, and your nest egg has been growing. This is great stuff!
If so, you my friend are on the road to success and what you need to do is to take one more step in the direction of financial success.
This next step is playing the game I like to call ‘what if’. This game will help you improve your creative thinking and help you find win-win deals. Not only that, it will also boost your financial knowledge.
The ‘What If’ Trick
During my first job after college, I ended up sharing offices with a co-worker who was quite the character. Everyone loved him, because he knew how to have fun, but he also got things done. Despite having taken different career paths we remain good friends to this day.
When I think of him, the one thing that stands out is his crazy ‘what if’ scenarios. Whenever the office was too quiet, seemingly out of nowhere, he would break silence with a hilarious ‘what if’ scenario.
He would say something such as ‘what if for some reason you decided to walk into the boss’s office and say “you know what, I think I can do a better job than you, so why don’t we switch jobs to see who is a better fit for the position?” Then he would follow up with ‘what do you think would happen?’
And then he would keep going on with another crazy tangent such as “… and what if he actually said yes!? …What would you do?”
Most of the ‘what if’ scenarios were much more colorful than this. As you can imagine, the entire conversations were hilarious from beginning to end. It was so much fun!
This same concept can be applied to business and can help you get win-win deals
How the ‘What If’ Trick Improves Creative Thinking
I’ve continued to play the ‘what if’ game and I often play it with my wife and kids. But, I mostly play it in my head and mostly pertaining to the possibilities of new businesses and investments. In fact, this has been something I do even if I don’t have the money or expertise to execute the vast majority of my crazy ‘what if’ scenarios.
But even so, many of those ideas often end up scribbled on a piece of paper and sometimes result into an email, a phone call, and a meeting with a realtor or a seller.
Playing ‘what if’ has without a doubt helped me improve my creative thinking, which has ultimately helped me in finding deals others have overlooked. And I am confident this will also help you unleash creative thinking.
Even more, playing ‘what if’ is a way for you to invest in your most valuable asset, your mind. In fact, every time you run through a business scenario, through a valuation, through a return on investment analysis, through a financing analysis, you are increasing your knowledge in a practical manner. Indeed, the more knowledge you possess, the easier and faster it will be for you to find good deals and achieve success.
Experts on Creative Thinking
When I was doing research for this article I spent some time looking for books on improving creative thinking. Although there is a lot of psychological stuff out there, I wanted to find something about creative thinking from an investment perspective. Surprisingly, there aren’t a lot of truly practical resources out there on this particular subject.
However, I did came across the book ‘No Limits: Blow the CAP Off your Capacity’, by John C Maxwell. The book focuses on how our capacity is not set, but expandable. Furthermore, an entire chapter is dedicated to creative capacity. Moreover, John Maxwell touches on the ‘what if’ concept and how it helps improve creative capacity. So if a respected author on leadership and motivation recognizes the power of ‘what if’ thinking, this stuff isn’t just a game. Indeed this is a real and powerful concept that will help you improve your creative thinking.
In his book, John Maxwell provides the principles listed below. So, as you consider this list note how the ‘what if’ concept adds value to these principles .
- Believe there is always an answer. What if there is an answer?
- Believe there is more than one answer. What if there are multiple answers?
- Believe that everything and everyone can get better. What if things work out perfectly?
- Understand that questions help us to become more creative. What if? What if?
- Become comfortable with half-baked ideas. What if this isn’t a terrible idea?
- Become comfortable letting go of what was embraced yesterday. What if there is a better way?
- Ask creative people to help.
- Give yourself creative retreats. Take the time to reflect.
What is a Win-Win Deal?
When thinking of win-win deals, most people think of Stephen Covey’s book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey’s habit 4, is known as ‘Think Win Win.’
This book goes deep into what ‘win win’ is all about. Suffice to say that a win-win deal is the type of deal where both parties are satisfied with the outcome of the negotiation.
Covey explains that thinking win win requires an abundance mentality. In other words, we need to feel there is enough for everyone and that we can gain more through cooperation, than through competition.
I love this way of thinking. And it goes hand in hand with creative thinking. This is because as we become deliberate about finding creative solutions, one of the things we do is explore things from different perspectives. More specifically, this can also means putting ourselves in the other party’s shoes, for the purpose of trying to find solutions.
Naturally, if we are able to see things from the other party’s perspective we will be better equipped to identify win-win deals.
The alternatives are less desirable outcomes such as win-lose, lose-win, and lose-lose negotiations. A win-lose outcome may sound appealing to some, but this is a shortsighted way of doing business.
The video below provides some additional information on Covey’s Habit 4, ‘Think Win/Win’
When I think of win-win deals, I am often thinking about buying real estate. And it has been my experience that a lot of times sellers are set on a traditional way of negotiating. And as a result of having set these barriers, sellers may not be getting the expected results, which can be frustrating for all parties involved.
But what if you could show the potential sellers that there are other non-traditional ways that may actually work better for the seller. When both seller and buyers are willing and able to think differently they’ll be more likely to find win-win deals that others may not have explored. However, the responsibility to initiate creative thinking and finding the win-win deal is on you. Thus, you have to have a habit of creative thinking long before you get to the negotiation table.
Months ago I was listening to a podcast, in which real estate guru Larry Harbolt shared some creative deal strategies. To some, these strategies aren’t new, but I am sure most people don’t know about them. But, what is more alarming is that even if people knew of these strategies they would probably not implement due to fear and lack of practicing creative thinking. These strategies pertain negotiating with a seller and are tailored to address the specific element of the negotiation that is most important to the seller.
- Price is most important – In this case, a buyer can offer a full price, ask for owner financing using monthly payments and no interest.
- Interest is most important – In this case, a buyer can offer less than full price, ask for owner financing and negotiate the interest rate and other favorable terms.
- Some money now is most important – In this case, a buyer can offer a large amount of money now and no payments for a while, Then resume with payments at favorable terms.
- Money now is not as important – In this case, a buyer can offer a lease option. This combines a lease agreement with the option of a purchase at a later time.
- All cash now is important – In this case, a buyer can offer a full cash offer, but at a – lower price.
Creative thinking can help you get win-win deals, but it can also help you find deals. When you think ‘what if,’ you automatically remove mental barriers. In fact, let me share a recent investment pursuit that I believe most people would not act upon, because the barriers were just too high. Nevertheless, I pursued this possibility for the fun of it, but also fully aware that I would continue to tap into my creativity and gain knowledge from the experience.
This ‘what if’ situation involves a large abandoned warehouse in a not very accessible, but busy area in Portland, Oregon. Also, the property is in an odd place, depressed in elevation and between a highway and a residential area. Despite its large footprint and location, I believe the average person driving on the highway doesn’t even notice it. People like me on the other hand, are constantly looking and thinking ‘what if’, especially when an ugly building catches our eye.
Indeed, my curiosity led me to the county website, where I hoped to find who owns the property and why it has sat there vacant and decaying for decades. I learned the property used to be a fabrication facility for a private company that is still in business. And doing additional research I also learned this company was founded by an immigrant that became a very successful entrepreneur. Also, it didn’t take long to find the current owner is the son of the company founder, to learn the size of the land and the building, the assessed value, etc.
I suppose many investing minded individuals, especially realtors, would easily go this far. Still, I kept going. I called the county and learned that a contractor had filed for a permit within the last 5 years. So, in my head I said ‘what if,’ and I decided to give the contractor a call. I found out what the intent was when the permit was filed and that a set of drawings is still available for someone to execute that earlier vision. I also learned that the structure of what appears to be a decaying building from the looks on the outside, is actually very sound.
Interestingly, the contractor also shared that the current owner owns a lot of other properties and that many of those properties are not being cared for.
So I thought ‘what if,’ and called the owner. I tried various numbers and email addresses, but could not reach him. Then I emailed the owner’s son hoping to somehow initiate a conversation. And that’s where things stand today, but I am not done yet.
Now, this may not sound crazy to you until you consider that even at a bargain price, this is a very expensive property, and I have no idea where the money would come from for me to buy it. Nevertheless, I know that if a door opened for me on this investment, I would find a creative way to make something happen.
Indeed, what if I could pull off a lease option agreement or a purchase option? In fact, there are many possibilities, as I could find other investors to partner with, or I could find a way to assign the contract to another investor and make a good amount of cash in process. And keep in mind that I am aware of these possibilities because I’ve practiced creative thinking for many years.
Another big part of all of this is what to do with this property? What if we (I don’t know who ‘we’ is, but thinking ‘we’ is very helpful in this situation) demolish everything and build a new apartment complex? If not, what if we keep the existing structure and convert the building into a self-storage facility? In either case, what would the return on investment be?
So yes, this property is a very unlikely scenario. Despite this, for me, this is a fun way to keep learning and looking for deals where other people won’t. In fact, let’s not forget this owner has other properties and maybe, just maybe, one of those properties is a better fit for me.
Creative Thinking is More Than Just Daydreaming
Granted, some may say all this stuff is just daydreaming. I say absolutely not, but even if that were the case, I would argue that daydreaming could be a positive thing.
In the first place, consider most people have been taught what to invest in and how to go about investing. Most of what is taught revolves around the idea than an investor needs money to make money. However, this is a false, because all an investor really needs to make money is knowledge. In short, most investors lack creativity. As such, when it comes to investing, it is best to err on the side of creativity.
Second, in any circumstance, a prudent investor is still required to understand the true value of the asset or investment and to understand risks. Although we’ve been talking about creative thinking in the context of finding opportunities, creative thinking can also be utilized to identify risks. In fact, I believe creative thinking has also helped me develop an analytical mindset. This helps me thoroughly assess investments before diving in.
Last, I find most people are too afraid of making a bold move. In that case, a little creative thinking can be a small step in the direction of a bold move.
Take a Small Step on How to Improve Your Creative Thinking
Thus, to encourage you to practice creative thinking let’s look at two cash flow investment possibilities. In the first place, let’s look at websites and apps. One website I use for this purpose is Flippa.com .
To start with, click on the Websites tab on the top left. Then, click on the ‘SEE ALL WEBSITES’ button on the top right corner.
Now, set up the filter on left side of the page. In this scenario I filtered for slightly profitable iOS Apps.
Now, pick an app that looks interesting and start thinking creatively. What if you could find someone to help you evaluate it this app? What if you could get it for a really good price?
For this example, I clicked on the third property. Next, study the financial information and try to understand how this app’s cash flows.
Now, let’s look at the second suggestion, which involves searching for real estate properties. One website I use often is Loopnet.com .
First, click on the advanced search link shown under the ‘Search’ button.
Next, set up a filter. In this scenario I filtered for multi-family properties under $1,000,000, in New Mexico, and with a cap rate between 5% and 10%.
Now, pick a property that looks interesting and start thinking creatively. What if geographical location wasn’t a constraint? What if you could partner with someone?
The third property looks interesting. This listing has a lot of information. But don’t let that bother you. Learning all of this is part of the process, but you don’t have to learn it all at once.
The bottom line is that if you want to maximize your potential for finding win-win deals you must be more creative than the competition. Thus, you’ll be significantly more successful if you know how to Improve your creative thinking in business and in general. The ‘what if’ concept we discussed here will remove mental barriers and will allow you to see opportunities others haven’t seen.
In addition, I encourage you to start immediately. Always keep in mind that every new ‘what if’ situation should be a learning opportunity. Recall that a voracious appetite for learning is key to success. What’s more, every new ‘what if’ situation has the potential of resulting in a new lead, a new relationship, or even a deal.
Last, imagine that you could play this game with a friend, or another investor? Indeed, that really sounds like fun and it is likely to produce amazing results. So, if you want to share with someone, I’d love to hear about some of your craziest pursuits and about how some of those pursuits may be preparing you for future deals.
Moving Forward
We still have a lot of material to cover under financial knowledge, but we are getting closer and closer to evaluating investment deals. I think that’s where everything will start coming together. In addition, I hope you’ll discover evaluating potential deals can be a lot of fun.
As always, please drop me a note and let me know what other areas of business and finance you’d like to explore. Then I’ll write more about your suggested topics as we pursue knowledge, financial success, and financial independence together. In addition, you can also follow me on Twitter at @Cash_Keen
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What if you could re-think your offering under current constraints, to remain competitive?
What if you could create better experiences and new products for your customers?
In our recent Masterclass Online, Fiona Triaca and Olga Cuesta from Naked Ambition gave us the tools to turn those ‘what ifs’ into ‘can dos ’ . That is, by apply ing creative thinking techniques and build ing a culture of innovation. To celebrate NSW Small Business Month , we’re bringing you a re cap of their insights to help small businesses move from place s of fear to place s of possibility.
We’ll break it to you early.
There’s no magic secret.
To move to a state of business transformation you need to be thinking outside of y our comfort zone. This can be intimidating, particularly as a risk-adverse small business , so Fiona and Olga shared strategies to switch gears into thinking creatively and exponentially . They outlined three key mindsets that business owners should aim to work through with their teams.
- Optimism
- Experimentation
Empathy is more than just jumping into someone else’s shoes. It’s about thinking from their perspective to solve a problem or provide an opportunity. Empathy sets the stage for teams to explore characters and problems within a situation. It does not constrain to one problem to solve, nor leave it too broad resulting in trouble finding tangible solutions.
So, how do you put empathetic thinking into action?
- Lead your team with open-ended questions and remember that there are no right or wrong answers .
- Ask yourself, are there other things you could give your customers that you’re not already?
- Ask yourself, what do your customers need (and they don’t even know it)?
Once you’re grounded in understanding w hat your customers want, you’ll find that more opp ortunities present themselves. Answering these questions is one thing, but being brave, bold an d optimistic is the next step.
A business owner should set the space for their team to be optimistic, and Fiona and Olga referred to a quote by the late Ken Robinso n to demonstrate this.
“The role of a creative leader is not to have all the ideas; it’s to create a culture where everyone can have ideas and feel that they’re valued.”
There are three ways to set the space for optimism.
1. Reframe the problem into an opportunity
You can reframe a potential challenge with the ‘ h ow-might-we ’ technique . Rather than dwelling on the limitations of a situation, reframe your thoughts and brainstorm creative solutions without being held back by ifs and buts.
2. Create the space
Many creatives (including Business Chicks favourite, Elizabeth Gilbert ), talk about the concept of “the hour of powe r.” Creativity is a muscle, so setting a regular time to work it will make it stronger. Consider scheduling regular creative brainstorms with your team to build the habit of thinking outside the box .
3. Build psychological safety
Once you’ve created a creative space for your team, leaders need to hold that space so that the team feel welcome to come with ideas . Build a culture of no bad ideas to demonstrate and role model a culture of freedom and confidence.
So you’ve got creative ideas to solve problems for your audience. Now to put them out there…
Experimentation
Cast your mind back to March 2020. The first question most businesses asked was , “how can we survive? ” . The companies that acted quickly in getting new products and services to market came out on top. So rather than being risk adverse, consider launching an minimal viable product (MVP ) to test your new ideas and prioritise getting a new idea out there rather than focusing on the granular detail . The sooner you get feedback, the sooner you can start perfecting your new product.
NSW Small Business Month is a festival held in October that brings together all levels of government and industry leaders to support the small business community. Subscribe to stay in the loop about upcoming news on the NSW Small Business Month festival in 2021.
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Of course, “take up creative thinking to succeed” is easier said than done. In order to start practicing creative thinking for modern business, you need to remember the following. There are always small things in
However, the definition of what is business writing reads, “the communication of ideas, information, directions or instructions between at least two people that focuses on the reader and the purpose of the communication.”
Discuss/Describe/Explain the advantages/benefits of creative thinking in the workplace. Creative thinking - The thought process that leads to original/novel/new ideas/new approaches
24 Nov Creative Thinking For Business Success. Creative thinking will save your business – and it might just save our economy, too. Creative thinking helps you keep your business presence fresh
Creative thinking is more than just daydreaming. This game will help you improve your creative thinking and help you find win-win deals. Although there is a lot of psychological stuff out there
For centuries, humans have mythologised the creative process as something magically elusive. Being able to recognise that anyone can be creative gives you permission to access the hidden depths of your own creative spirit
That is, by applying creative thinking techniques and building a culture of innovation. To move to a state of business transformation you need to be thinking outside of your comfort zone