Creativity Flow

Hello again!

The previous week on our oratory course was dedicated to creativity and special creative thinking techniques which we can use in preparing our speeches. It was the topic of my big (23 minutes☺) speech, which I delivered on Thursday. In general I`m satisfied with my speech. Of course, there were some weaknesses which I will identify later in my big self-analysis. But I`m very proud of myself and I think it was a success✌ In my speech I presented 3 interesting creative thinking techniques: Lateral Thinking, Brainstorming and Mind-Mapping. We tried to use one of them during the double-period. We worked in groups. Our group used the Mind-Mapping method, which I find very useful and aesthetically pleasant. The theme of our assumed speech was "The first week at the university". This talk is supposed to help freshers during their first stressful week at the university. To make our Mind Map we tried to use our right creative side of the brain, instead of logical left part)) This is the photo of our final result: 

This technique gave us new ideas, which we haven`t considered before. For example, we thought that we could use different fears like an attention-getter at the introduction of the speech and then give some practical tips how to overcome these fears and make the first week at the university much easier. These tips will include the layout of our faculty and the whole university, choice of transport, explanations of the names of subjects and so on.

At home I had to use one of the creative thinking techniques on my own and present the results in my blog. My next big speech (persuasive) will be about the importance of art in people`s life. I haven`t come up with the exact name of my speech yet, but I have already started to research the topic (you can find the plan of researching in one of the previous posts) and to think about the arguments and examples. Today I decided to use the Brainstorming Method. I`ve chosen it because it`s powerful and easy to use. The subject of my future speech in general is ART. I gave myself 2 minutes to use my free associations and to form a chain of words. That`s my result:

I`ve tried to use the right side of my brain and to write random associations as quick as possible. Then I tried to classify all the ideas somehow, to understand in what way I can use them in my future speech. I`ve come up with this: 

So, the Brainstorming Method gave me some fresh and new ideas which are useful for my speech. I`ll try to describe the classification of my ideas and ideas themselves:

1. The first group of associations is pretty obvious: I`m a great ballet-lover and I watched 2 great perfomances that week. That`s why I have so many associations connected with ballet and stage. These ideas aren`t very fresh for me, because I`ve already thought about telling my audience about different places where they can "find" art, like theatres, museums, concert halls, cinema, Internet (we can listen to classical music there, for example). 

2. The second group is really new, because I haven`t thought about this concept before: wedding and preparations for the wedding. I think that I can use it as an example of a sphere, where we can express ourselves, where we can create. It will be one of the practical tips how to let art in our lives, how to make our lives beautiful. Art really matters when we talk about weddings! Nowadays people usually design their weddings in the exact colour, style and even art trend! My future audience consists only of girls, so this topic and example may be very suitable and bright.

3. The third group of associations is connected with abstract notions which can describe art. More precisely: what feelings and ideas we have when we watch an incredible performance or when we draw. I can use them, for example, in the conclusion of my speech. I can find a great quote about art and people`s feelings or something like that. It will be a very important emotional appeal in the conclusion of the speech.

4. The fourth group is very unusual, it is connected with designing a cafe and a menu. Actually, the word "design" from my associations can be applied to all the groups)) This idea can also be an example of the importance of art in our life: we need great design in cafes and restaurants, because it creates a special atmosphere which we greatly appreciate. Here I can also speak about art in business: we need it in logos, in advertisments, in designing the interiors, the uniform...

It` s a brilliant idea! I haven`t thought about it before!

5. The last group is connected with design in our own houses: for example, our working place. I can also use it as an example of the importance of art: a beautiful workplace is a great motivation to study hard!) Or it can be a practical tip to make our life beautiful: just start with your workplace!

Have you ever used any creative thinking techniques? Did you find them helpful?