🧠 Fostering a Creative Mindset
Recognize that everyone is creative.
Tell others they are creative.
Let the child that lives in you come out to play.
Encourage others to go beyond the obvious.
Allow and encourage questions.
Allow for ambiguity and uncertainty.
Allow for paradox.
Allow your folks to say “I don’t know” without ridicule.
Admit that you often do not have the truth or answer (practice saying, “I don’t know”).
🕰️ Creating Space for Reflection and Thought
Permit time for thinking and daydreaming.
Plan for spontaneity; don’t over-structure tasks.
Encourage others to think about ideas.
Invite your group to explore new ideas and new subjects.
Ask others not to jump too quickly to conclusions—explore options first.
🎨 Enriching the Environment
Provide materials that enrich imagery—such as stories, myths, fables, and art.
Provide a variety of different resources.
Share your own interests.
Suggest new and different activities.
Encourage learning from a variety of sources.
🗣️ Encouraging Expression and Dialogue
Encourage everyone to record their ideas.
Encourage others to use their imagination.
Encourage everyone to look at things from different perspectives.
Ask others for opinions.
Respect others’ opinions and encourage self-expression.
Allow others to question your decisions.
Ask your group to be involved in decision-making.
Ask thought-provoking questions.
🤝 Building a Supportive Culture
Praise rather than punish true individuality.
Emphasize internal rewards over external rewards.
Favor "values" over "rules."
Demonstrate appreciation for others’ creative behavior.
Appreciate all types of creative activity and expression.
Openly tell jokes; laugh.
Allow for healthy expression of feelings.
🚀 Supporting Exploration and Risk-Taking
Encourage the experimentation and testing of ideas.
Encourage the synthesis of diverse and seemingly irreverent elements.
Allow others to take “reasonable” risks.
Allow others the freedom to make their own decisions.
Encourage independence and interdependence.
Discourage others from doing things just to please you.
🌱 Cultivating Growth and Resilience
Emphasize progress over punishment.
Look at mistakes as learning opportunities rather than reasons to punish.
Encourage fears, hardships, and failure to be dealt with constructively.
Encourage new interests.
Encourage feedback and reflection.
🌟 Purpose and Alignment
Stress the importance of holding to the mission of the work.
Urge others to become committed to their task.
Create a shared mission and vision.