{"id":76256,"date":"2022-08-08T10:50:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-08T14:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=76256"},"modified":"2022-08-22T16:03:22","modified_gmt":"2022-08-22T20:03:22","slug":"creative-decision-making","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/creative-decision-making\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Stimulate Creative Decision-Making"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is the most effective way to stimulate the creative process<\/a>? How does introducing constraints help you come up with more creative ideas? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You’d think that the best way to come up with a creative solution is to brainstorm as many options as you can. While the brainstorming<\/a> strategy is good, it may not always be viable. In some cases, the problem is having too many options<\/a> with none being appealing. If that’s the case, try eliminating options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s how eliminating options can help stimulate creative-decision making. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Imagine Eliminating Options<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The strategy to stimulate creative decision-making<\/a> is somewhat counterintuitive: Imagine that one or more of your options have been eliminated<\/em>. The authors claim that when we rule out an option, we handle this constraint by creatively developing other options.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, consider someone who wants to sign up to run a full marathon. However, they\u2019re new to running, and they wonder if they\u2019ll be ready in time. After they imagine eliminating the option of running a full marathon, they research other possibilities. They add \u201crun a half-marathon\u201d to their list. It\u2019s an option that\u2019s both ambitious and realistic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Constraints Bolster Creativity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Experimental research supports the Heath brothers\u2019 claim that limitations during the creative process drive creative problem-solving.<\/a> When people are asked to brainstorm ideas<\/a> without any limits, they follow their intuition instead of innovating. By contrast, when people brainstorm ideas within<\/em> limits (such as limits on time or money), they tend to generate more creative solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are some additional ways you can apply creativity-inducing constraints while brainstorming options for a decision? Here are three suggestions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ditch the cellphone. <\/strong>While brainstorming options, keep your cell phone in another room. Research shows that having your cell phone within reach\u2014whether or not you actually use it\u2014limits your cognitive competence<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reduce your online distractions. <\/strong>If you\u2019re looking online for options for a decision, download a website-blocker for your browser<\/a> so that you don\u2019t waste time web-surfing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Limit the time you spend developing options.<\/strong>Place limits on your brainstorming time<\/a> so that you don\u2019t waste too much brain power and time generating options you later reject.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What is the most effective way to stimulate the creative process? How does introducing constraints help you come up with more creative ideas? You’d think that the best way to come up with a creative solution is to brainstorm as many options as you can. While the brainstorming strategy is good, it may not always be viable. In some cases, the problem is having too many options with none being appealing. If that’s the case, try eliminating options. Here’s how eliminating options can help stimulate creative-decision making.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":55256,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,43],"tags":[721],"class_list":["post-76256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-psychology","category-self-improvement","tag-decisive","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Stimulate Creative Decision-Making - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The strategy to stimulate creative decision-making is a bit counterintuitive. 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