Creative people are often described as outside the box thinkers and non-conformists. They are not afraid to take risks and challenge the status quo. In order to be creative, a person must have both divergent and convergent thinking. Divergent thinking is the ability to generate many ideas, whereas convergent thinking is the ability to filter and refine those ideas into viable solutions. Creative people use a combination of both divergent and convergent thinking to create new products, ideas, or artwork.
Creativity is all about human expression and communicating deeply. In order to communicate deep emotions creative people must have a high level of empathy. Creatives are also very observant of their surroundings and others, whether they are doing research for a project or interviewing a candidate. They have a knack for observing body language and can pick up on nuances in speech.
They are highly motivated by a desire to push the boundaries of their knowledge. They are curious, enthusiastic and lighthearted, and they enjoy working on challenging projects that stretch their abilities. They work well with other people but also like to spend time alone so they can focus on a particular task or idea without distraction.
Because creative people are so observant and empathetic, they have a very sensitive and often vulnerable nature. They may be easily upset by criticism, indignation or ill-judged behavior. They can go from joyful to melancholy in the blink of an eye because they feel everything so intensely. This is what makes them such amazing artists, writers, sculptors, and musicians.
When they are in their flow, it is hard for them to multi-task. It takes them about twenty minutes to re-focus if they are interrupted while they are working. They must hone their work to get the most out of it. Creating art, writing a novel or making music is often an all-consuming passion for them. They put all their energy into it and don’t consider the work “work”.
Creatives are energetic, which is reflected in their work. They love to bring their enthusiasm and passion to the job, and they are eager to learn from each other. They are energized by the prospect of creating something new or finding a way to make things better. They enjoy collaborating with their peers and can be great motivators to other people.
During the interview process, you can assess your candidates’ creativity by seeing how they react to challenges. Whether it’s coming up with a unique idea for a marketing campaign or developing the perfect logo for your company, you will know they are a creative thinker by how open they are to stepping out of their comfort zone and exploring new possibilities.