Every time they hear the term creativity, most people instantly think of painters, actors, musicians, and writers. However, creativity is not just about the arts. Creativity is essentially defined as the ability to think of new ideas or make new things. It’s hard to think of a broader definition of creativity since the very concept transcends boundaries and defies categorization.
On the other hand, personality traits also have their strengths as far as the creative process is concerned. Here’s a quick look at the connection between creativity and certain personality traits:
Extraverts and Introverts
it’s easy to assume that extraverts are less creative than introverts. That famous image of artists working in seclusion is based on reality. Introverts can have themselves immersed in their inner world and polish their authentic voice better in a peaceful setting free from distractions and other voices. Their ideas might turn into genius.
The creative process itself is usually not the biggest challenge for introverts. Instead, it’s feeling courageous to showcase their work, expose themselves to critique and convince others to welcome new ideas.
Shutting away themselves until they feel inspired might prove to be a disadvantage to extraverts, but they have the benefit of collaboration. Since extraverts don’t treasure their alone time in the same way as introverts, it lets them pursue a meeting of the minds and make the most out of various forms of feedback, ideation, and creativity. Extraverts also can achieve lasting and incredible innovations as well.
Observant and Intuitive Personalities
Intuitive personality types usually have an apparent creative drive. They are known for their reputation as imaginative and visionary thinkers who thrive in scenarios when the traditional approach fails.
Such moments allow them to share all the wild schemes that they often daydream about. The eagerness of turning their dreams into a reality, however, can often spell trouble for them if they take a risk on an idea that is original but not yet fully formed instead of relying on a boring but tried and true solution.
In the eyes of an observant, the correct solution works. They consider it a waste to innovate for the sake of innovation alone. However, it doesn’t mean that creativity isn’t valuable to these personalities although they probably don’t talk about it in the same glowing terms used by the intuitive type.
Observant types don’t have any issues with creative solutions as long as these are effective. Thanks to their thorough ground in circumstance and details and their hands-on approach, observant types are often poised to produce a novel idea that is no doubt creative but might not be as flashy as that of their intuitive counterpart.
Thinking and Feeling Personalities
Emotion is one quality often linked with creativity. Novelists whose characters move readers to tears, joy, or anger, and singers who belt their hearts out during their performances have a lasting and powerful impact on others.
Personalities with the Feeling trait do well in creative endeavors thanks to their natural empathy and tendency to see the world using an emotional lens. However, they have a hard time expressing themselves without coddling a lot in emotional drama or navel-gazing so that other people can be receptive or relate to their ideas.
Thinking personalities, on the other hand, often favor logic and set aside emotions. It makes them seem calculating, less creative, and cold than the Feeling types.
But the truth is that a rational, focused, and clear-eyed approach is often the exact thing they need to identify logical connections that others didn’t see. It allows them to think through problems, or come up with innovative solutions.
Imagine what the world would have been like if there were no Thinking-type engineers, designers, scientists, strategists, and philosophers.
Judging and Prospecting Personalities
Prospecting personalities might have the motto of the first thought is the best thought. With the potential of sizing up problems in a matter of seconds, diving into unforeseen opportunities, and creating pitch-perfect but offbeat remedies, this personality is known for creative brilliance.
Sadly, their instinctive powers are not infallible with the tendency to lose interest in projects before they see they are completed. When a prospective type starts trusting their snap judgments a lot, a creative winning streak may result in an ignominious and sudden end.
Judging types, on the other hand, can be best described as those who believe that genius is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration. Although you a prospecting personality have impressive swift insights, the judging type’s more gradual approach is equally creative.
For judging personalities, creativity is an arduous and careful process, similar to nurturing a spark and waiting for it to turn into a roaring flame. The approach might make judging types work more slowly compared to prospecting types, with their work labeled as dependable instead of brilliant. However, they can have the confidence that the ideas that make it through their stringent creative process can endure the test of time.
Turbulent and Assertive Personalities
There is no doubt that confidence is crucial to creativity, with assertive personalities being confident. Since the creative process is intimidating, it is a big help to be more self-assured in taking that initial step, whether it’s to make a bold move or just write down an idea on paper.
Assertive people who don’t see themselves as creative have a particular benefit in their somewhat relaxed approach to life. If you’re not that worried about poor results, it will be easier to somewhat try something creative.
Due to their tendency of doubting themselves and striving for perfection at the same time, turbulent personalities might have a harder time with the creative process. However, most of the time, their most memorable and exciting work is produced out of struggle.
The turbulent type is more prone to working through several iterations or drafts of a project. They also take feedback to heart and even push themselves into becoming much better at the things they do leading to spectacular results. However, turbulent personalities should remember that there is a certain point where perfectionism can become unhealthy and unproductive.
So, how creative are you depending on your personality type?