A genius is someone who can think in exceptionally creative ways. Can you learn to think in similar ways? It seems the answer to this question is ‘yes.’ Creative ability can be increased and improved throughout your life. By studying the way creative minds work, you can boost your creative prowess. There are five essential steps involved in doing this.

1. Silence your inner critic

Your inner critic can play havoc with your ability to think freely. So you need to learn when to listen to it, and when to blank it out. The first step of thinking like a genius is allowing yourself to think wildly. You need to spark creativity by allowing ideas to flow unchecked. Come up with as many ideas as possible before you edit, say ‘yes but’ or discard possibilities. This is often a hard step to take, because your education probably taught you to be logical rather than creative. 

2. Generate large numbers of ideas

If you can only think of three solutions to a problem, you haven’t been creative. Push yourself further. Creative ideas are rare, so you need to stretch your imagination in order to find them. You need to generate at least five ideas before you’ve moved beyond habitual thinking patterns. To be creative you need to build new neurological pathways. This means taking time to experience several ‘aha’ moments. 

3. Write down what you’ve come up with

Psychologists say you can only remember up to nine ideas at once. Writing lists stops you recycling the same concepts over and over again. It also focuses your attention on the problem and speeds up your thinking. By recording your ideas, you are stimulating new thinking patterns – the patterns of genius. 

4. Keep your list of ideas visible

This will prompt you to improve your ideas. Try putting an ideas board in your workspace. Every time you walk past it, challenge yourself to come up with a new idea or improve an old one. Try combining two or more concepts and modifying each idea separately. You’ll swiftly find yourself becoming more and more creative. 

5. Edit strategically

Editing is used to sort out ideas that will work in real life. It is an important part of the creative thinking process. Be strategic by using criteria to identify which ideas will work best. Rate each idea against these criteria, so you can eliminate the ideas that don’t really work. Then create an action plan for putting your ideas into practice. Remember – a true genius doesn’t just think up new ideas. They also turn those ideas into reality.

 

Want to learn more about using the full potential of your brain?
ITCC’s course Think Like a Genius will show you how to use these principles in everyday life. Think Like a Genius is a fascinating exploration of the human mind. It teaches you how to solve problems, generate ideas and tap into your inner genius. Enrol now!