As an innovation speaker and a creativity speaker, I follow the evolution of scientific research on these topics very closely. On the occasion of a Call for publications from the scientific magazine BMC Psychology on the subject of cognitive and neural mechanisms at the origin of creativity, I suggest that you review what the most advanced sciences (psychology, neuroscience and cognitive sciences) tell us about these mechanisms.
Or rather what they tell us that can be transformed into direct action, into daily activation, in a professional as well as personal environment.
So here are 4 major concepts from neuroscience, transformed into 4 concrete and actionable tips, identified by scientists who work on the complex nature of creativity.
1. Activating the brain's “Creative Networks”: promoting divergent thinking times
Understanding the role of neural networks in creativity can inspire new practices. Because creativity is much more than an artistic skill; it is based on cognitive and neural mechanisms that, once understood, can be activated to boost innovation.
Instead of encouraging ongoing productivity, organizations would benefit from integrating moments of “divergent thinking” — times when ideas are freely explored without the constraints of immediate results. This can be achieved through pressure-free brainstorming sessions, mind mapping sessions, or even encouraging creative breaks throughout the day.
Concrete tip : Organize a “creative hour” every week where your team members can freely explore solutions to real problems, without immediate judgment or profitability goals.
2. Developing “Executive Functions”: training attention and cognitive flexibility
Executive functions — including working memory, cognitive flexibility, and attention — are essential for stimulating creativity. By strengthening these skills, you become better able to manipulate ideas and focus on creative tasks without distraction.
Concrete tip: Incorporate “flexible thinking” exercises into your daily routine, such as solving puzzles or considering different ways of doing a regular task. Organizations can incorporate problem-solving workshops in the form of games to strengthen this capacity in their teams.
3. Creating a favourable environment: creating spaces for inspiration and “Cognitive Freedom”
In my innovation conference and my creativity conference, I often say that there are no ideal conditions to be creative or innovative. I am convinced that this is the case, and all innovation specialists say it: waiting for the moment, the right teams, the budget that is going well and especially the time to “innovate” or to give yourself the opportunity to be creative, it's just a good excuse to put off the moment to get to work.
Because creativity is nothing more and nothing less than a process. A job. And like all processes, it nevertheless has environments that can facilitate, accelerate or, on the contrary, slow it down.
That is why the direct environment plays a key role in stimulating creative potential. Organizations can promote this aspect by creating flexible workspaces, where the freedom to organize their environment is encouraged. In addition, a climate of trust and kindness is crucial for everyone to dare to propose new ideas.
Concrete tip : Set up “creative areas” with expression walls or interactive whiteboards. Also encourage informal moments of sharing between teams to generate collective inspiration.
4. Capitalising on “Neuroplasticity”: training and stimulating the creative brain
Neuroplasticity opens up the possibility of “training” the brain to become more creative. Practices like mindfulness meditation — I talk about this very often in my innovation conference and my creativity conference, the regular practice of new skills or gentle brain stimulation (e.g. music, relaxation) help the brain to establish new connections.
Concrete tip : incorporate meditation or concentration exercises into your routine. In a professional setting, offering regular training courses focused on the development of creative skills or relaxation workshops can also have a significant impact.
Understanding the mechanisms of creativity allows us to activate them intentionally, whether by working on our cognitive flexibility, by rethinking our environment or by focusing on practices such as meditation.
In a world where innovation is the key to competitiveness, where “79% of business leaders make innovation a strategic priority”, taking ownership of these levers is more than ever a necessity for any organization wishing to unleash the creative potential of its employees.
