20 reasons why you’re not creative

Creativity is an essential skill to have in the business world, but the very word ‘creative’ is a tripwire to many people. After all, unless you are paid to produce a video or write a script, what use is creativity in the workplace? 

In fact, ‘creativity’ is simply the ability to solve problems or be resourceful. To quote Steve Jobs, “Creativity is just connecting things.” Virtually any job presents scenarios where problem-solving skills are required, and this is where creativity is needed. Creativity is the formation of ideas and solutions that is an integral part of leadership. In fact, a 2010 IBM survey revealed that CEOs all over the world rated creativity as the top leadership skill. That’s ‘the‘ top, not ‘one of the top’

And here’s the real deal clincher: being creative will make you happier:

Research continually reports findings that spending time on creative goals increases positive emotions, reduces depressive symptoms and anxiety, and even improves the function of our immunce systems.

And you thought it was all about magnesium and zinc intake, eh?

So why aren’t you being as creative as you could be, when you know it improves the quality of your life?

Here are 20 reasons and a gift – at the end – that contains 6 ways to tap into your creativty NOW! 

Identifying barriers to creativity 

So what stops you from being creative? In a workshop I ran on Creative Problem Solving, the group generated a whole list of blocks. These are common obstacles we find in ourselves which we might dismiss as personality quirks, communication barriers or a lack of self-esteem, but they manifest themselves in a lack of creativity. If you are to fulfil your potential overcoming these blocks is essential. 

See if any of these strike a chord: 

1. You’re too tired or drained from the day that’s been or was. 
2. Identity –  ‘I’m not a creative’.  Creativity is who you are, black and white. 
3. If you’re successful, people will want you to do this again. You can’t guarantee achievement when pure chance is what helped you the first time. 
4. If you achieve your goal, then your profile’s up and so you’ll be easier to find and shoot down. 
5. What’s the point? Nothing will come of your ideas anyway. 
6. You’ve got so many ideas, you don’t know where to start. 
7. You can only generate ideas with people you trust and the opportunity doesn’t happen very often. 
8. No-one will listen to you. 
9. You’ll be stigmatised / outcast / mocked / considered to be an upstart. 
10. You don’t have the money / time / equipment. 
11. You’ve failed too many times to believe you can be successful with your ideas. 
12. You can’t be creative until you’re financially secure. 
13. It’s not ‘important’ enough: it’s something you can only allow yourself to do in the shadows. 
14. It’s too much effort to put an idea into reality. 
15. By concentrating on creativity, you’ll neglect things that really matter. 
16. Being creative means you don’t want a proper job and can’t hold one down. 
17. Creativity is frowned upon in your culture: it’s a sign of weakness. 
18. Your parents / teachers told you that you weren’t creative and it still sticks. 
19. Creativity makes you feel so happy: you haven’t deserved it. 
20. Creativity? What’s that? 

Some of these are personal impediments you have imposed on yourself, or which have grown to become natural characteristics, while others are fostered by your working environment, the business culture or the wider culture.  

Your Action 

1. Note what’s true for you. 
2. Drop it in the comments or speak to me: I help specialists in tech to become unstuck. 

Addressing these blocks in being creative – as well as revealing what creativity actually looks like in practice – is vital to understanding how to be creative and generate ideas. We look at this closely in my problem-solving techniques training. Check out my courses to see the many ways I can help you shine. Contact me today.   

Need a quick way to solve problems?  I’ve got 6 for you to download right here!⬇️

GIVE ME THE DOWNLOAD NOW

This article was originally published in February 2015 and was completely updated in June 2024.