How can you use your experience to develop more creative solutions?

Creative problem solving (CPS) is a skill that can help you overcome challenges, generate new ideas, and improve your performance in any field. But how can you use your experience to develop more creative solutions? In this article, you will learn some tips and strategies to leverage your knowledge, skills, and insights from your past and present situations to boost your creativity and innovation.

1 Assess your experience

The first step to use your experience to develop more creative solutions is to assess your experience. What have you learned from your previous projects, successes, failures, and feedback? What skills and knowledge do you have that are relevant to the current problem or opportunity? What gaps or weaknesses do you need to address or improve? By reflecting on your experience, you can identify your strengths, areas for improvement, and potential sources of inspiration.

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Kume Akpubi

Senior Product Designer | UI/UX, Visual & Interaction Designer, crafting memorable experiences through Design
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Like many other disciplines, the value of creativity is only seen in its application. Experience comes from constant application, and use of our talents and skills. The real value is in the CORRECT application. A sedan is useful, but it cannot take the place of a train. The humility to accept the limitations of our experience and skill opens the right doors to places where we can truly give value.

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2 Expand your perspective

The second step to use your experience to develop more creative solutions is to expand your perspective. How can you look at the problem or opportunity from different angles, viewpoints, or contexts? How can you challenge your assumptions, biases, or habits that might limit your creativity? How can you learn from other people, sources, or disciplines that have different or complementary experience? By expanding your perspective, you can discover new possibilities, insights, and connections that can enrich your solutions.

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Nelly K.

Development Consulting | Technical Communication | Systems Change
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An interesting thing could be to keep a learning notebook - think of it as a journal but a professional one. You may update it once or twice a month, organizing it according to your area of learning. Structure it within a framework - insights within a topic, systems in an organization, data/indicators, etc. Over time, patterns and/or outliers will emerge leading to an almost natural creative process.

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3 Apply your experience

The third step to use your experience to develop more creative solutions is to apply your experience. How can you use your existing skills and knowledge to create, test, and refine your solutions? How can you combine, adapt, or modify your previous solutions to fit the new situation? How can you use your feedback and evaluation to improve your solutions and learn from your mistakes? By applying your experience, you can leverage your expertise, confidence, and resilience to produce effective and original solutions.

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4 Share your experience

The fourth step to use your experience to develop more creative solutions is to share your experience. How can you communicate your solutions to others in a clear, compelling, and convincing way? How can you collaborate with others who have different or similar experience to enhance your solutions? How can you contribute to the learning and development of others by sharing your experience, insights, and advice? By sharing your experience, you can increase your impact, influence, and network, and also learn from others.

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5 Update your experience

The fifth step to use your experience to develop more creative solutions is to update your experience. How can you keep track of your progress, achievements, and challenges? How can you update your skills and knowledge to stay relevant and competitive in your field? How can you seek new opportunities, challenges, and experiences that can stimulate your creativity and growth? By updating your experience, you can maintain your motivation, curiosity, and adaptability, and also prepare for the future.

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6 Enjoy your experience

The sixth and final step to use your experience to develop more creative solutions is to enjoy your experience. How can you celebrate your successes, appreciate your efforts, and reward yourself for your creativity? How can you have fun, experiment, and play with your solutions? How can you express your passion, personality, and values through your solutions? By enjoying your experience, you can boost your happiness, satisfaction, and well-being, and also inspire others.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you use your experience to develop more creative solutions?

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1 Assess your experience

2 Expand your perspective

3 Apply your experience

4 Share your experience

5 Update your experience

6 Enjoy your experience

7 Here’s what else to consider

Creative Problem Solving

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How can you use your experience to develop more creative solutions?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess your experience

2 Expand your perspective

3 Apply your experience

4 Share your experience

5 Update your experience

6 Enjoy your experience

7 Here’s what else to consider

Creative Problem Solving

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