What are the best tools for assessing your team's creativity and problem-solving skills?

Creativity and problem-solving are essential skills for any team that wants to innovate, adapt, and overcome challenges. But how can you measure and improve these skills in your team members? In this article, we will explore some of the best tools for assessing your team's creativity and problem-solving skills, and how to use them effectively.

1 Why assess creativity and problem-solving skills?

Creativity and problem-solving skills are not fixed traits that you either have or don't have. They are dynamic and can be developed with practice, feedback, and reflection. Assessing these skills can help you identify your team's strengths and weaknesses, set goals and expectations, and design learning and development opportunities. Moreover, assessing these skills can also boost your team's motivation, confidence, and collaboration, as they can see their progress and achievements.

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Hariom Singh ᴘʜ.ᴅ. PMP, RMP

GenAI Co-Author | Senior Program Leader | MBA, PMP, RMP | Risk & Innovation Leader | Architecting Scalable Data Solutions | Driving Fortune 500 Success | Empowering AI Ethics & Governance for a Smarter Future.
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Unlock Your Team's Creative Genius and Problem-Solving Superpowers! 🚀💡 - I'd use the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking to uncover hidden creative talents 🕵️♂️ – it's like a treasure map to your team's imagination. - Implement self-assessment surveys 📝 – they're like mirrors reflecting your team's self-perceived creativity. - Track creativity with quantitative metrics 📊 – count those innovative ideas like a starry sky. - Mix and match assessment methods for a complete picture 🎨 – blend self-reviews with expert evaluations. Pro tip: Try using tools like Trello or Asana for tracking creative projects and progress – keep the creative momentum going! 🌪️

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Dr. Jiani Wu 🌈

Reawakening Childlike Wonders to Transcend Perception, Skill & Culture
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Problem Solving Inventory (PSI) is a 35 item self-report questionnaire measuring a person's perceptions of their own problem-solving skills and tendencies (not their actual abilities) It contains 3 subscales: 1) Problem Solving Confidence (11 items): confidence in the ability to solve problems effectively 2) Approach-Avoidance Style (16 items): tendency to approach or avoid dealing with problems 3) Personal Control (5 items): perceived self-control over emotions/behavior when problem-solving Reference: Kourmousi, N., Xythali, V., Theologitou, M., & Koutras, V. (2016). Validity and Reliability of the Problem Solving Inventory (PSI) in a Nationwide Sample of Greek Educators. The Social Sciences, 5, 25.

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2 What are some common methods of assessing creativity and problem-solving skills?

There are many methods of assessing creativity and problem-solving skills, but they can be broadly categorized into three types: self-assessment, peer assessment, and expert assessment. Self-assessment is when your team members rate their own skills using surveys, questionnaires, or portfolios. Peer assessment is when your team members evaluate each other's skills using rubrics, feedback forms, or peer review. Expert assessment is when an external or internal expert evaluates your team's skills using tests, interviews, or observations.

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Jason Patterson

Founder of Jewel Content Marketing Agency | Truths & Memes | Content Strategy, Thought Leadership, Copywriting, Social Media 'n' Stuff for B2B & Tech
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When assessing a team's creativity and problem-solving skills, remember that they shouldn't only be assessed collectively, they should also be assessed individually. If individual creativity and problem-solving skills aren't translating into team-level skills, something's wrong. And as a leader, you have to figure out what that is.

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3 What are the advantages and disadvantages of each method?

Each method of assessing creativity and problem-solving skills has its own advantages and disadvantages. Self-assessment can increase your team's self-awareness, autonomy, and ownership of their learning, but it can also be biased, inaccurate, or inconsistent. Peer assessment can foster your team's communication, cooperation, and mutual support, but it can also be influenced by social pressure, favoritism, or conflict. Expert assessment can provide your team with objective, reliable, and valid feedback, but it can also be costly, time-consuming, or intimidating.

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4 How to choose the best method for your team?

There is no one-size-fits-all method for assessing creativity and problem-solving skills. The best method for your team depends on several factors, such as your team's size, composition, culture, goals, and needs. You should also consider the purpose, frequency, and format of the assessment, and how you will use the results to inform your team's learning and development. Ideally, you should use a combination of methods to capture a comprehensive and balanced picture of your team's skills.

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5 How to use the assessment results effectively?

Assessing your team's creativity and problem-solving skills is not enough. To truly enhance your team's performance and potential, you must use the results effectively. Share the results with team members and celebrate their achievements, provide constructive feedback to help them set SMART goals for improvement, and identify gaps and opportunities in their skills. Design relevant and engaging learning and development activities, monitor progress, adjust plans as needed, and encourage your team to reflect on their learning and apply their skills to new situations.

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6 What are some examples of tools for assessing creativity and problem-solving skills?

Assessing creativity and problem-solving skills is possible through a variety of tools, such as the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT), Creative Problem Solving Profile (CPSP), Kirton Adaption-Innovation Inventory (KAI), FourSight Thinking Profile, and Lateral Thinking Puzzles. TTCT is a standardized test that measures fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration of creative thinking. CPSP and KAI are self-assessment tools that measure preferences and styles of creative problem solving. The FourSight Thinking Profile is also a self-assessment tool that measures preferences and strengths in the four stages of the creative process. Lastly, lateral thinking puzzles challenge logic, reasoning, and imagination by presenting unusual or paradoxical scenarios.

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Daniela Caine, CPC, ELI-MP, CTDS, CLDS

I help creative and visionary leaders turn pain into power so they get their Dream Job in a Year (or less). IPEC Coaching | Women-Centered Coaching | Trauma-Informed Breathwork
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One of the most straightforward ways to assess your team's capabilities to problem solve and creative capacity is to look for team members who are asking questions that invite new thoughts and ideas around a particular problem. Questions invite exploration, convergent thinking, and a growth mindset.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Daniela Caine, CPC, ELI-MP, CTDS, CLDS

I help creative and visionary leaders turn pain into power so they get their Dream Job in a Year (or less). IPEC Coaching | Women-Centered Coaching | Trauma-Informed Breathwork
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One of the most important aspects for creativity and creative problem-solving to occur is a sense of safety and security within a team and the larger organization. Fear-based work culture shuts creativity and collaboration down and creates an environment of toxic competition where employees are guarded, have to come up with the 'solution' in isolation, and genius solutions can never be reached.

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What are the best tools for assessing your team's creativity and problem-solving skills?

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1 Why assess creativity and problem-solving skills?

2 What are some common methods of assessing creativity and problem-solving skills?

3 What are the advantages and disadvantages of each method?

4 How to choose the best method for your team?

5 How to use the assessment results effectively?

6 What are some examples of tools for assessing creativity and problem-solving skills?

7 Here’s what else to consider

Thought Leadership

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What are the best tools for assessing your team's creativity and problem-solving skills?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Why assess creativity and problem-solving skills?

2 What are some common methods of assessing creativity and problem-solving skills?

3 What are the advantages and disadvantages of each method?

4 How to choose the best method for your team?

5 How to use the assessment results effectively?

6 What are some examples of tools for assessing creativity and problem-solving skills?

7 Here’s what else to consider

Thought Leadership

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