The Top 10 Traits of Creative People
Category: Effectiveness Skills, Results (AG70)Originally Submitted on 5/11/97.
Hundreds of traits, or characteristics, of creative people have been identified. Thirty-some have been identified as being repeatedly mentioned across the literature. Researchers say that most creative people display at least five of these 30 traits. So just because you don't see traits here that seem to match who you are, doesn't mean you aren't creative. These ten begin to define parameters for creative people in the widest possible terms and are by no means exclusive.
1. Curious
2. Tolerant of ambiguity
Creative people are comfortable not having the answer all the time
3. Intuitive
but logical, too. Creativity calls for moving easily back and forth between these two broad ways of thinking and processing information.
4. Open to emotions
5. Sense of humor
There appears to be a strong connection between humor or playfulness and creativity
6. Risk taker
7. Persistent
8. Self-disciplined
The perception that creative people are flighty, dis-organized, absent-minded is simply not true. Some are, many are not, just like any segment of the population.
9. Internal motivation
as opposed to being motivated by external factors, like, say, money.
10. Wide ranging interests
About the Submitter
This piece was originally submitted by Ken Coleman, B.A., B.F.A., M.F.A., Educational Administrator, who can be reached at ken@interport.net. Ken Coleman wants you to know: Being creative is a part of being human. The original source is: For Further Reading: Teresa M. Amabile, Growing Up Creative. 1989; M.I. Stein, Stimulating Creativity. 1975. Scott Isaksen, ed. Frontiers of Creativity Research. 1987.
Copyright 97, 98, 99, 00, 2001 CoachVille
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