2. 2
Module M2 Profiling women digital entrepreneurs
Competence
unit
U2.1 Boosting entrepreneurial
creativity
Learning
outcome
Recognise the role of
creativity in
entrepreneurship
Type of
resource
PowerPoint Presentation
(PPT)
Type of
learning
Face-to-face
Resource title Let’s talk about creativity
Learning
hours
1h
Contents
- What does creativity mean
- Programmed thinking and lateral thinking
- Personal traits of creative people
- Is it an inherent skill or can it be developed?
- The role of creativity in entrepreneurship
4. 4
Creativity:
the ability to produce
original and unusual
ideas, or to make
something new or
imaginative
Source: Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Source: image by ivanovgood on https://pixabay.com/
5. 5
Source: https://pixabay.com/
Creativity…
allows us to stretch out minds
do new and exciting things
engage ourselves in a way that
takes us one step closer to
reaching our full potential
Source: https://www.verywellmind.com/characteristics-of-creative-people-2795488
retrieved 09.03.2019
Source: image by geralt on https://pixabay.com/
6. 6
Source: https://pixabay.com/
Programmed thinking &
Lateral thinking:
two main strands to creativity
Programmed thinking relies on logical or
structured ways of creating a new product or
service whereas lateral thinking recognizes that
our brains are pattern recognition systems.
Because of that, we can instantly recognize
patterns such as faces, language, and
handwriting.
We use lateral thinking techniques to break out
of this patterned way of thinking.
Source: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCT_00.htm retrieved 09.03.2019Source: image by congerdesign on https://pixabay.com/
7. “
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
suggested that creativity can often be seen in
a few different situations:
People who seem stimulating, interesting, and
have a variety of unusual thoughts.
People who perceive the world with a fresh
perspective, have insightful ideas and make
important personal discoveries. These
individuals make creative discoveries that are
generally known only to them.
People who make great creative achievements
that become known to the entire world.
Source: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-creativity-p2-3986725 retrieved 09.03.2019 7
8. Personal traits of
creative people
based on Csikszentmihalyi’s perspective:
▪ Energy: they tend to possess a great deal of both physical
and mental energy. They also tend to spend a great deal of
time quietly thinking and reflecting.
▪ Intelligence: they must be smart, but above all, they must
be capable of looking at things in fresh, even naïve, ways.
▪ Discipline: they do not just sit around waiting for
inspiration to strike. They are playful, yet they are also
disciplined in the pursuit of their work and passions.
Source: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-creativity-p2-3986725 retrieved 09.03.2019
8
9. 9
In what kind of situations
do you see yourself as a
creative person?
Do you think
creativity is a skill
we can develop?
Source: image by johnhain on https://pixabay.com/
10. “ Despite the widely held belief that
some people just aren't endowed
with the creativity gene, "There's
not really any evidence that one
person is inherently more
creative than another,“ says
psychologist Robert Epstein, PhD.
Instead, he says, creativity is
something that anyone can
cultivate.
Source: https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2009/01/creativity retrieved 09.03.2019
10
11. 11
Often the only difference
between creative and less
creative people
is self-perception:
creative people see
themselves as creative and
give themselves the
opportunity to create.
Source: image by iwanna on https://pixabay.com/
13. Why is creativity important
in a business world
Creativity was often seen as an exclusive feature of artists.
Some people associate it with lack of restraint and believe
it can cause chaos.
However, entrepreneurship and creativity form a perfect
combination. It takes creativity to solve a problem in a
different way or to “think out of box”, to launch a new and
innovative product or to design a procedure.
Lack of creativity can easily drag a business into stagnation or
even lead to its end. 13
14. THE ROLE OF CREATIVITY IN
ENTREPRENEURSHIP (1)
14Source: https://www.alphagamma.eu/entrepreneurship/role-creativity-in-entrepreneurship/,
retrieved 08.03.2019
Increase productivity
Creativity allows an entrepreneur to disconnect from the
accustomed and move into uncharted territories with an aim to
discern unique and useful solutions.
It has, therefore, become essential for both leaders and
employees to develop creative skills.
Innovation and creativity bring an entrepreneur to the success
path.
15. THE ROLE OF CREATIVITY IN
ENTREPRENEURSHIP (2)
15Source: https://www.alphagamma.eu/entrepreneurship/role-creativity-in-entrepreneurship/,
retrieved 08.03.2019
Exploit employee or partners potential
By not encouraging others’ creativity, one is probably utilizing only
half of their employee’s and partner’s potential.
Tapping all these opportunities can result in improved financial
strategies, increased profitability, and quick decision making.
Creativity also enables an enterprise to stay ahead of the curve.
16. THE ROLE OF CREATIVITY IN
ENTREPRENEURSHIP (3)
16Source: https://www.alphagamma.eu/entrepreneurship/role-creativity-in-entrepreneurship/,
retrieved 16.02.2019
Transcend boundaries
Creativity enables entrepreneurs to find some of the path-
breaking discoveries.
It’s essential to allow collisions and blur to take place to transcend
boundaries set by disciplines.
Creativity lets an entrepreneur connect distinct aspects and
extrapolate feasible solutions from unrelated concepts.
17. THE ROLE OF CREATIVITY IN
ENTREPRENEURSHIP (4)
17Source: https://www.alphagamma.eu/entrepreneurship/role-creativity-in-entrepreneurship/,
retrieved 08.03.2019
Encourage critical thinking
Problem-solving works best when coupled with highly disciplined
and focused thinking. Entrepreneurs can think in either divergent
or convergent thinking mode:
- Convergent thinking involves in-depth analysis and enables an entrepreneur to find the most
feasible solution to a managerial or financial problem.
- Divergent thinking encourages creativity by enabling business owners to explore possible
solutions for the same problem.
While entrepreneurs can combine both thinking modes, divergent
thinking ensures an enterprise gets the best resolution.
18. THE ROLE OF CREATIVITY IN
ENTREPRENEURSHIP (5)
18Source: https://www.alphagamma.eu/entrepreneurship/role-creativity-in-entrepreneurship/,
retrieved 08.03.2019
Foster innovation
Entrepreneurs need to be cautious to ensure their products are
relevant and useful to the users.
This is the time an entrepreneur begins to realize how innovation
and invention differ. Invention refers to a new, unique concept
while innovation is an idea which is as unique and useful as the
original one.
You need to be creative and view an idea differently to be
innovative.
19. 19
In what other
situations do you think
creativity can play an
important role in a
business?
Source: image by geralt on https://pixabay.com/
20. LET’S REVIEW SOME CONCEPTS
Describing what creativity is
all about
Some definitions of creativity
Programmed thinking and lateral thinking
Different levels of creativity in people’s lives
Personal traits of creative people
Inherent skill or can it be developed?
Reflecting about the role of
creativity in entrepreneurship
The importance of creativity in business
The role of creativity in entrepreneurship:
Increase productivity
Exploit employee and partners potential
Transcend boundaries
Encourage critical thinking
Foster innovation
20
21. This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This publication reflec ts the vi ews onl y of the aut hor , and the Commission cannot
be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Project Number: 2018-1-UK01-KA202-047909
