20 creative practices that can instantly enhance your creativity

The importance of keeping our creative muscles trained

As a multidisciplinary remote team working in the creative agency, we recognize the importance of keeping our creative muscles trained and toned. While being a remote team can present certain challenges, it also adds an element of excitement to our routine, bringing us closer together in ways we never thought possible

THESE UNCONVENTIONAL IDEAS FOR REMOTE TEAM BRAINSTORMING CAN HELP TEAMS GENERATE CREATIVE IDEAS AND THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. IT IS EXTREMELY CRUCIAL TO EXPERIMENT WITH VARIOUS TECHNIQUES TO DETERMINE WHICH ONES WORK BEST FOR YOUR TEAM AND PROJECT:

1. Mind mapping is a creative technique that involves creating a visual diagram to explore and organize ideas. There are several online tools available, such as Coggle and MindMup, that allow teams to collaborate and create mind maps together in real-time

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2. Reverse Brainstorming is the process of identifying potential obstacles or problems and brainstorming solutions to make them worse rather than better. This technique can assist teams in identifying potential pitfalls and developing innovative solutions to overcome them

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3. Six Thinking Hats is a technique developed by Edward de Bono that involves viewing a problem or idea through six different lenses, represented by different colored hats. Online collaboration tools such as Miro or Google Jamboard can be used by teams to visually represent each perspective and generate ideas

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4. Storyboarding is a visual technique used to plan out scenes and shots in film and television. Online collaboration tools can be used by teams to create a virtual storyboard and visually represent their ideas in a more creative and dynamic manner

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5. Forced connections involve finding ways to connect two seemingly unrelated ideas or concepts. This can spark new and creative ideas that would not have occurred to you otherwise. Online tools like IdeaFlip can help teams visually represent these forced connections and generate new ideas
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6. Teams can generate random words or phrases to spark creative ideas by using a random word generator tool like RandomWordGenerator.com. Team members can then take turns explaining how the word or phrase relates to the current project or problem

MORE IDEAS FOR REMOTE CREATIVE TEAMS WOULD INCLUDE:

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7. Asynchronous Collaboration with Deadlines: Each team member passes their idea to the next person, who builds on it in a specific time frame and order. This method is known as collaborative brainwriting, and it can aid in the generation of a more cohesive set of ideas

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8. Asynchronous Collaboration without Deadlines: In this approach, each team member can add ideas at any time and in any order. This method, known as online brainstorming or brain netting, allows for more spontaneous and diverse ideas to emerge

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9. Another approach to asynchronous collaborations is the Asynchronous Stepladder Approach, where each team member contributes an idea without seeing other people's ideas first, to avoid reflexively using the first idea and encourage considering a wider range of possibilities
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THESE INDIVIDUAL TOOLS CAN ASSIST YOU IN BREAKING OUT OF YOUR USUAL CREATIVE ROUTINE AND APPROACHING CHALLENGES DIFFERENTLY:

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10. A deck of cards called Oblique Strategies is designed by musician Brian Eno and artist Peter Schmidt to stimulate creative thinking by making unexpected and unconventional suggestions. You have the option of purchasing a physical set or using an online version

11. The forced Connections technique involves connecting two unrelated ideas or concepts to spark new and creative ideas. You can use online tools like IdeaFlip or Miro to visually represent these forced connections and generate new ideas

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12. Creative prompts are simple, open-ended questions or statements that can spark new ideas. You can use a tool like Creative Something to generate random prompts, or create your own based on the specific challenge or problem you're working on

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13. Mind mapping is a visual brainstorming technique that involves creating a diagram to explore and organize ideas. There are several online tools available, such as Coggle and MindMup, that allow you to create mind maps in real-time

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14. Analog tools can be great for fostering creativity, as they can help to break up the monotony of digital work and provide a tactile and sensory experience. Consider going for a walk with a sketchbook or a coloring book, or a specific card deck to have an outlet to document unexpected ideas
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REINFORCING CREATIVE PROCESSES IS CRUCIAL FOR TEAMS WORKING IN PERSON, AS IT HELPS TO BREAK THE MONOTONY OF DAILY OFFICE OR COWORKING ROUTINES AND UNCOVERS UNEXPECTED CREATIVE TALENTS WITHIN TEAM MEMBERS:

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15. Brainwriting entails team members writing down their ideas on index cards, which are then shuffled and redistributed to the group for additional brainstorming
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16. Co-creation sessions involve gathering team members from various backgrounds and skill sets to collaborate on a specific problem or project. These sessions promote teamwork and cross-functional learning, which results in more creative and effective solutions being documented

17. Mind mapping software, such as MindManager or XMind, can assist teams in creating, organizing, and sharing ideas in real-time. This enables team members to work more effectively together and see how their ideas fit into the larger picture

18. Virtual reality tools, such as Tilt Brush or SketchUp, can assist teams in visualizing their ideas and exploring new possibilities. These tools are especially useful for design teams working on projects or creating 3D models

19. Design thinking workshops are a problem-solving methodology that entails empathizing with users, defining the problem, brainstorming potential solutions, prototyping, and testing. Design thinking workshops are an excellent way to get teams to collaborate and generate new ideas
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20. Hosting team member showcase sessions can be a powerful way to build stronger connections among team members and foster a sense of accomplishment. By providing a platform for each team member to share their passions and interests in an open and supportive environment, teams can bridge gaps and build a deeper appreciation for each other's unique talents and strengths

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We trust that these techniques will help you unleash your creativity, whether you're working individually or in a team. Keep an eye out for more empirically-proven ideas from our team members, which we'll be sharing with you soon!

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With love,

Bolder agency team