Did you know that creativity can be measured? Check out recent survey results

As the world changes ever faster, we are increasingly faced with situations where there is no ready-made approach but where we need to use our creativity to come up with a solution.

In a job requiring a high level of specialised expertise, creativity is the ability to draw on and apply models from different contexts and approach things from new perspectives in order to achieve our goals. We use our creativity when we solve problems or change how we work and unlearn old ways of doing things.

Creativity has, therefore, recently been widely acknowledged as one of the most essential skills for the future. It is linked to life-wide learning and the capacity to change in new situations. Individuals and teams who are curious, use their imagination and experiment boldly with new ways of working usually adapt better to new contexts.

By being open to new ideas, we harness our talent holistically, adopt new ideas and behaviours and thereby improve our chances of finding original and useful solutions. 

Creativity can be learned and measured–get to know the materials 

The Creative Working Life 2030 project is the first in the world to develop a survey that can be used to self-assess individual creativity in working life. Creativity is examined through five areas: identity, curiosity, drive, insight and self-confidence.

"Based on the answers, we Finns enjoy thinking, creating something new and solving challenges. They are all important interests and abilities in a changing world," says Susanna Rahkamo, research director of Yellow Method company, who lead the development of the survey. In 2016, Rahkamo defended her thesis at Aalto University on the importance of collective creativity for success.

Based on the self-assessment survey results, long experience may increase creativity, so creative performance even improves with age.

"Due to low self-confidence, we easily hide behind rules and social norms, which makes working unnecessarily straightforward and takes away the opportunity for creative, non-linear problem solving," says Rahkamo.

We need encouragement from our colleagues and supervisors to use creativity, experiment and learn through failure. The Creative Working Life 2030 project promotes and develops work culture that is increasingly based on collaboration and trust. 

In autumn 2022, the creativity measurement pilot will be extended to the organisational level. Genelec, Esko Systems, Reima, Arla, Kaski Agency, Abloy, Kotipizza, Foibe-Kartano, Nomentia, Siemens, Indieplace, Fujitsu, Rabbit Films, Hasan & Partners, Duunitori, Telia and the Finnish Olympic Committee are the organisations participating in the organisational surveys.

• Invite your colleagues, work community and friends to take the self-assessment test and you will receive your personal creativity performance map in response by email.
• Check out the summary report (in Finnish) on Finnish creativity derived from the first 2630 responses to the survey. At the end of September 2022, more than 4000 people have already completed the creativity self-assessment test.
• Watch the recording of the "Can creativity be measured?" webinar (in Finnish), where Susanna Rahkamo and Pauliina Valpas open up the results of the creativity survey and explain why creativity is important as a skill in working life, what it consists of and how to develop your creativity in your career.

Added 12.1.2023: Organisational creativity survey gathered over 605 responses across 16 different organisations.

• Check out the summary report (in Finnish) that sheds a light upon the current state of creativity in Finnish organisations.
• Watch the recording of "What kind of organisational culture fosters creativity?" webinar (in Finnish) where Susanna Rahkamo and Pauliina Valpas open up the organisation-level results of creativity survey, and share their insights on how the prerequisites for creative thinking and work could be improved in Finnish organisations.
• All the important information and links for improving creativity of both individuals and organisations can now be found in the one place – see www.luovatyoelama.fi