Mentoring with “Creativity”
If I say the word "Creativity" what comes to mind?
As a university mentor, you may find the following quote from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's book "Creativity: The Psychology of Discovery and Invention" relevant to your work with students:
"Creative individuals are remarkable for their ability to adapt to almost any situation and to make do with whatever is at hand to reach their goals."
As you work with university students, they may face various challenges in their academic and personal lives. Encourage them to develop a creative mindset, using their problem-solving skills and available resources to overcome obstacles and reach their goals. By emphasizing adaptability and resourcefulness, you can help your students develop a resilient and creative approach to their university experience.
Here is a step-by-step approach a university mentor could take based on the quote from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's book "Creativity: The Psychology of Discovery and Invention" for helping their students develop a creative mindset:
Start by introducing the concept of a creative mindset to your students.
"Creative individuals are those who are able to redefine problems, not just solve them. Once the problem is redefined, the solution tends to follow."
Explain to them that being creative doesn't necessarily mean being an artist or musician; it means being able to approach challenges and problems in a new and innovative way.
Encourage your students to think about the challenges they're facing in their academic and personal lives.
Ask them to brainstorm different ways they could approach these challenges, even if the solutions seem unconventional or outside the box.
Help your students identify the resources they have available to them. This could include academic resources like tutoring or study groups, as well as personal resources like friends, family, or hobbies.
Encourage your students to experiment with different approaches to their challenges. Let them know that failure is a natural part of the creative process and that it's okay to make mistakes as they try out new ideas.
Help your students celebrate their successes, no matter how small they may be.
Reinforce the idea that being creative means being able to adapt to any situation and make the most of what's available.
Finally, remind your students that creativity is a skill that can be developed over time.
Encourage them to continue to approach challenges in a creative and innovative way, even after they've left university. By fostering a creative mindset, you can help your students become more resilient and adaptable in all areas of their lives.
Who could you connect with to engage on this more?
With Arete,
Sean