Without fail, there are always moments in my day when I’m asked to be creative and imaginative. Usually I greet these moments with open arms, but other times, I’m not mentally prepared. This usually stems from being focused on analytical and logical projects all day and not completely utilizing my creative, right-brain capabilities. Nonetheless, these requests for creative inspiration still occur and it’s my job to deliver my thoughts and insight. I've found that the tactics outlined below help fuel my creative capabilities.

Start Writing
Jot down topics, words and phrases related to the creative project you've been presented with. Next, try seeing if any of these terms and phrases can overlap to create new meanings and ideas. Whenever I do this, I end up with a web-like chart sprinkled with some Venn diagrams, which reveal dozens of potential creative concepts. You just may find that creativity will spark by using something as simple as a pen a paper.

Explore Social Media
When my creative task calls for something more visual or tangible, I tend to look at other’s work for inspiration. Social platforms like Pinterest and Tumblr allow you to search by keywords for user-uploaded content. Of course you should only use these sites for inspiration and not duplication of somebody’s work!

Ask Questions
Sometimes the best answer to a question is another question. This Socratic method of discussion traces back to ancient Greece as a way to stimulate critical thinking and illuminate ideas. If you’ve been assigned a creative task, ask the project owner questions to get a better sense of what they’re looking for. Try asking others associated with the project for their thoughts and insight. Present possible ideas or concepts to someone whose opinion you respect.

As Albert Einstein once said, “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” I hope these quick tips have helped guide you on an enjoyable path to creative brilliance.

How do you get your creative juices flowing?