In today’s fast-paced, disruption-driven world, the difference between stagnation and breakthrough often comes down to one thing: how consistently we apply creativity at work. 

And yet, creativity still feels like something that happens “on the side.” It’s seen as a spark of inspiration or a special skill certain people have.

But there’s a better way to think about it. Creativity isn’t magic. It’s a habit. One you can build, repeat, and apply every single day. That’s what applied creativity is all about.

What is Applied Creativity, and How is it Different from Just “Being Creative”?

When we think of creativity, we often picture artists, designers, or inventors. People who seem to naturally come up with brilliant ideas. But that’s only one side of the story.

Applied creativity is different. It’s not about waiting for inspiration. It’s about using structured tools and processes to solve real-world problems, both at work and across teams and departments.

It’s a form of creative problem solving that anyone can learn and use. It’s intentional. It’s grounded in science. And it works.

Can Creativity Be Learned and Strengthened Like Any Other Skill?

Yes. Absolutely.

Just like you can learn to code, cook, or speak another language, you can learn to think more creatively. Studies show that creativity is a skill. With the right creativity training, anyone can improve it.

Frameworks like design thinking or the Basadur Simplexity process help people and teams practice creativity in a repeatable way. When done consistently, this builds long-term innovation strength.

The Science Behind Applied Creativity

Why does applied creativity work so well? Because it’s grounded in how the brain actually learns.

Neuroscience shows that our brains are highly adaptable. Each time we engage in creative problem solving, we strengthen neural pathways associated with flexibility, pattern recognition, and idea generation. Over time, these pathways become more efficient, making it easier to generate fresh ideas on demand.

Psychologists also note that creativity isn’t just about “eureka” moments, it’s about practice. Research from scholars like Gerard Puccio has shown that structured creativity training improves not just idea flow, but also collaboration and adaptability. Similarly, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s work on “flow” demonstrates that when people engage deeply with problem solving, they not only produce better outcomes, they also experience more satisfaction and motivation at work.

Applied creativity is the practical side of this science: intentional exercises, repeated consistently, that reshape how individuals and teams think.

Small Daily Habits That Build Creative Thinking (In Minutes, Not Hours)

You don’t need hours of brainstorming to build an innovation mindset. Just a few intentional habits can rewire your thinking:

  • Start your day with “What if” questions instead of to-do lists.
  • Pause before rejecting ideas. Try: “What might make this idea work?”
  • Switch contexts. Solve problems from a different team’s perspective.
  • Set a 5-minute divergence timer. Generate 10 new ways to solve a task without judging them.
  • Journal one unusual observation daily. Train your mind to notice patterns and anomalies.

These are small acts. But over time, they rewire how you think. You stop defaulting to the obvious. You start exploring the new.

Understanding Divergent and Convergent Thinking: When to Use Each

Applied creativity works in cycles. First, you generate many ideas (divergent thinking), then narrow them down (convergent thinking).

  • Divergent thinking is exploratory. You expand the space of possibilities, often suspending judgment.
  • Convergent thinking is evaluative. You analyze, refine, and select the most viable ideas.

Both are essential. The key is not to mix them. When you evaluate too early, you kill ideas before they grow. 

What Blocks Creativity in the Workplace and How to Remove Them

Even trained teams can face internal blockers to innovation:

  • Fear of failure: People hesitate to share ideas unless failure is destigmatized.
  • Bias for the familiar: We choose what worked last time, not what might work better.
  • Time pressure: When everything feels urgent, creative thinking gets pushed aside.

So how do you fix that?

  • Leaders need to show it’s safe to experiment and fail.
  • Teams should rotate innovation roles so everyone builds flexibility.
  • Protect creative time. Block out space where the goal isn’t speed, but discovery.

How Leaders Can Model and Reward Creativity Without Slowing Delivery

One myth about creativity is that it takes too long. In reality, creative teams deliver results more efficiently. They spot risks early, test better ideas, and avoid rework.

Here’s how leaders can help:

  • Celebrate everyday creativity, not just big wins.
  • Reward curiosity. Not just results.
  • Use tools like the Basadur Profile to build diverse-thinking teams.
  • Allow “white space” time for reflection and idea generation.

How Do Teams Use Roles and Strengths to Innovate Faster?

The Basadur Innovation framework outlines four innovation stages and corresponding roles. Every team member plays one of four roles:

  • Generator: Sees opportunities, raises questions.
  • Conceptualizer: Frames problems, shapes ideas into models.
  • Optimizer: Refines and improves solutions.
  • Implementer: Brings ideas to life in real-world systems.

Every role matters. Balanced teams move faster because each person brings something unique to the table. Mapping your team’s profiles also helps people stretch beyond their usual thinking style.

How Do We Build an Innovation Culture Across Departments?

Innovation shouldn’t be confined to one “creative” team. To make creativity stick:

  • Make creativity training part of your onboarding.
  • Include creative tools in team meetings and planning sessions.
  • Run workshops that mix people across departments.
  • Track creative metrics, like how many ideas were generated, or how many experiments failed and taught something valuable.

This turns creativity into a workplace routine, not a one-off event.

Creativity isn’t just for the few. It’s for everyone. And it’s not about talent. It’s about practice.

When you train your brain for applied creativity, you unlock new ways to solve problems, think faster, and build better ideas. That’s how organizational creativity grows and sticks.

Make it a daily habit. Not a rare event.

Turn insight into action and build an innovation routine that sticks by taking the first step and contacting Basadur Applied Innovation.