Recently I was asked… Glenn – your an out of the box thinker… what do you think sparks creativity – and what they can do to get their team to be more creative.   This is a simple overview of my answer:

1. Pray:   Let’s think about it…  God created the platypus, the kangaroo – the Rocky Mountains,  the Grand Canyon, the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico…  stop me when you get the point that God is a God of Creativity…  The North Pole, the eagle, ….
2. Take a Shower:   I know it sounds crazy but some of the better ideas I have had come to me as the warm water drums into the skull.
3. Work Out:  Some of the better ideas I have had lately have come while on the rowing machine @ the YMCA in Washington Court House OH
4. BRAINSTORM:   Just mention a topic – ask a question and then write everything down that someone comes up with in the meeting… Awesome method -  groups of people will feed off each other and give awesome answers and feed off of each other until the ultimate idea comes up…. keep writing… some of those ideas will work for later
5. Listen.  God speaks through many people – listening to others will only help your creativity.   I have an idea for an entire sermon series … all from something a child said the other day.
6. REST -  when your tired – your not on your A Game… thats a given – but your ability to be creative is diminished as well.   the saying No Rest for the weary is better said No Creativity for the Weary… in this regard.
7. Conferences -    Go to different conferences and learn.   If you don’t learn while there don’t go back… its a waste of time… find those that you do and stretch yourself.
8. Get out of the office:   You can’t be creative behind your desk… (even if your a cartoonist…)   You need to get out and about – see what is happening around the world – around the church and outside of the church…

What do you do to help with creativity?