The 7 Traits Of Highly Creative People

How many do you have?

I read a fascinating article in FAST COMPANY that lists the seven traits that all highly creative people seem to share:

1. Your mind has an associative orientation. Ever been told to stop daydreaming? Tend to become so absorbed in something you lose track of time, maybe even forget to eat?
2. Your need is originality, rules and systems be damned. Ever been disciplined for rebelliousness? Have trouble fitting comfortably into a hierarchy? As Thomas Edison once said, "Hell, there are no rules here - we're trying to accomplish something."
3. You are extremely motivated. All successful people score high on personal motivation but high creatives take it a notch or two higher, to the point of irritating others who get in the way of you reaching your goals.
4. Ambition, which is different from recognition. Many highly creative people are introverts, almost all of whom prefer the shadows, but that doesn't negate the drive to achieve, just the indifference to the usual societal fruits of achievement.
5. Flexibility. It's why you disdain rules. Every situation offers possibility to highly creative people if others will just get out of your way.
6. You are emotionally volatile. Many high creatives are neurotic because they are highly sensitive to the feelings and emotions of those around them. Sensates tend to have higher highs and lower lows.
7. You're a pain in the ass. You're prickly, difficult, a bit of a loner, demanding, not generally a lot of fun to be with most of the time.

Your basic personality is pretty well determined by your mid-20s, but this research suggests anyone can become more creative if they are supported within an environment that values high creativity.

I've witnessed this many times. Management that is more comfortable with fewer rules, that is more tolerant of coloring outside the lines, tends to be more supportive of high creatives.

It's easy to walk into a station and instantly feel whether high creatives would be welcomed, and inspired.

If your station needs more highly creative personalities, in all departments, it means you and your corporate structure need to adjust...

...because there is always someone willing to take a deep breath (or a long walk) in order to get the brilliance high creatives produce.