The document discusses preparing people for innovative thinking through education and developing emotional intelligence. It defines emotional intelligence as self-awareness, motivation, empathy, and relationship skills. Developing emotional intelligence can enhance creativity by opening the mind to new experiences, diversifying problem-solving approaches, reducing stress, considering multiple solutions, and maintaining health. Creativity and emotional intelligence together can help create competent individuals.

1. International Journal of Management (IJM), – 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6510(Online)
International Journal of Management (IJM), ISSN 0976
ISSN 0976 – 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6510(Online)
Volume 1, Number 2, July - Aug (2010), © IAEME IJM
Volume 1, Number 2, July - Aug (2010), pp. 76-80
© IAEME, http://www.iaeme.com/ijm.html ©IAEME
PREPARING PEOPLE FOR INNOVATIVE THINKING
Dr.N.Shani
Professor
Karpagam Institute of Technology,
Seerapalayam, Coimbatore-641021
ABSTRACT
Education has been the instrument in the development of man to enable him live
an effective and meaningful life and to contribute towards the development of society in
which he finds himself. Education becomes meaningful and grows when a person tries to
be innovative. Innovative thinking is inborn and it presents in each individual in different
ratios. It can be geared in the young minds of the individual by imparting practical
oriented Education, and Training. The influence of Emotional Quotient of the individual
for developing innovative thinking plays vital role.
INTRODUCTION
Learning can be positive, when an experience has been properly digested, so new
skills, coping and mastery are developed - or learning can be negative, when the
experience is perhaps overwhelming and has not been integrated and so future avoidance
patterns become imprinted, what could be termed 'unskills'. So long as you eventually
learn from it in a positive way, no experience is wasted. Knowing who you are, self-
realisation, is a basic human need. Life is, to a significant degree, for learning - so when
things don't go right, when we do wrong, make mistakes, and when we do things right as
well - these are all learning opportunities.
DIMENSIONS OF CREATIVITY
One can approach tasks in one's life in a positive, creative manner or in an
ineffectual, at worst destructive manner. These are the various dimensions involved.
Challenge: In response to a challenge, the creative person will approach it
energetically and with enjoyment.
76

2. International Journal of Management (IJM), ISSN 0976 – 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6510(Online)
Volume 1, Number 2, July - Aug (2010), © IAEME
Freedom: A creative person prefers to be independent and is happy to take initiatives
and give voice to ideas.
Livelines: If someone's excitedly busy, happy and humorous they're probably being
creative.
Openness: Someone with a positive mentality tends to be trusting and considers
mistakes as something to learn from.
Conflicts: When conflicts arise, a positive, creative person will look for a helpful win-
win compromise, which requires willingness to communicate with understanding and
empathy.
Risk taking: A positive, creative person takes responsibility readily and doesn't
hesitate to risk acting on new ideas.
ENHANCING CREATIVITY
Learning to think creatively is the best business survival tool. Research has shown
that regardless of age or education, everyone has the capacity to become more creative.
Here are six tips to help you enhance your creativity and stimulate creativity.
1. Open Your Mind: Have one new experience every day; no matter how small.
New experiences stimulate the brain and help you make new and original connections;
critical for boosting breakthroughs.
2. Diversify: Involve others in your problem-solving efforts. By using this approach,
you’ll be asked “dumb questions” that can often help you question assumptions, and see
your challenge from a different angle.
3. Mental Floss: Take time to clean out your “mental plaque” by flossing daily;
unplugging and taking time out to relax. Stress, exhaustion, boredom and even pain can
block our pathways to creativity.
4. Stop Looking For the Right Answer: Look for many right answers. Multiple
solution thinking can help you strengthen your creative muscle, while generating more
ideas, which always leads to better ideas.
77

3. International Journal of Management (IJM), ISSN 0976 – 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6510(Online)
Volume 1, Number 2, July - Aug (2010), © IAEME
5. Discover Your Creative Rhythm: Everyone has creative performance peaks
daily. If you aren’t sure, keep a log for a week and jot down what time of day you are
most mentally productive.
6. Health Makes Wealth: A wealth of new ideas can be yours if you exercise
regularly and eat well. Regular exercise not only benefits your body, it boosts brain
performance as well.
ROLE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Only part of our success in life is attributable to intellect. Other qualities: trust,
integrity, authenticity, creativity, honesty, presence and resilience, are at least as
important. These 'other intelligences' are collectively described as Emotional Intelligence.
There was a time when IQ was considered the leading determinant of success. Based on
brain and behavioural research, Daniel Goleman argued in his ground-breaking book,
'Emotional Intelligence,' that our IQ-oriented view of intelligence is far too narrow.
Instead, Goleman makes the case for emotional intelligence (EQ) being the
strongest indicator of human success. He defines emotional intelligence in terms of self-
awareness, altruism, personal motivation, empathy, and the ability to love and be loved
by friends, partners, and family members. People who possess high emotional
intelligence are the people who truly succeed in work as well as play, building flourishing
careers and lasting, meaningful relationships.
The good news is that EQ can be learned or developed, it's not something you're
stuck with. We can develop in ways that can improve our relationships, our parenting,
our classrooms, and our workplaces. Our temperaments may be determined by
neurochemistry and long-established patterns of behaviour, our genetic and cultural
programming, but we can recover control. We could turn society on its ear if we learned
to recognize our emotions and control our reactions; if we combined our thinking with
our feeling; if we learned to channel our flow of feelings into creative expression, an
expression of love.
Emotional intelligence plays an integral role in defining character and
determining both our individual and group destinies. It involves the ability to monitor
78

4. International Journal of Management (IJM), ISSN 0976 – 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6510(Online)
Volume 1, Number 2, July - Aug (2010), © IAEME
one's own and others' emotions, to discriminate among them, and to use the information
to guide one's thinking and actions. In short, to embrace the power of emotions
intelligently. It involves abilities that may be categorized into five domains:
1. Self-awareness: Observing an emotion as it happens; realising the prior ideas
and conceptions that underly an emotional response; being open to intuitive
insights; emotional honesty - a developed sense of integrity and authenticity.
2. Emotional maturity: Facing up to fears and anxieties, anger, sadness and
discontent and expressing that energy constructively, whilst retaining spontaneity.
3. Self-motivation: Channeling emotional energy in the service of a goal;
openness to new ideas; the ability to find breakthrough solutions and to make
sound decisions; resilient optimism based on competence; sense of responsibility
and personal power to get things done in accordance with what is needed and
wanted.
4. Empathic understanding: Sensitivity to others' feelings and concerns and
willingness to respect their perspective; valuing the differences in how people feel
about things; the capacity to trust and be trusted, to forgive and be forgiven.
5. Quality communication: Managing emotions in others through
communication based on empathy and understanding, to build mututal trust;
social skills, including constructive handling of disagreements and the ability to
create and sustain friendships; leadership effectiveness.
CONCLUSION
Successful innovation requires a willingness to both honor and break with
tradition. People seek the frontiers of creativity and strive to reach higher levels of
consciousness and wisdom. Creative people: employ them, promote them, go into
business with them, make friends with them. Creativity when blended with emotional
intelligent of an individual, becomes the strong tool for developing competent individual.
79

5. International Journal of Management (IJM), ISSN 0976 – 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6510(Online)
Volume 1, Number 2, July - Aug (2010), © IAEME
REFERENCE:
Goleman .D : 1998 : Working with Emotional Intelligence Bantam Books.
Swami (Dr) Parthasarathy, 2007: “Transforming Personality Emotional
Intelligence to Spiritual Intelligence”. Ane Books India , New Delhi.
Dalip Singh,, 2001, Emotional Intelligence at Work- A professional Guide,
Response Books, New Delhi.
Spencer and Spencer Richard H. Rosier (ed.), :1994 and 1995 : Emotional
Competence Framework : The Competency Model Handbook, Volumes One and
Two (Boston : Linkage,)
80