Not many people realize how useful imagination can be in business. Imagination and creativity are closely connected, and both can help you come up with original ideas, notice opportunities, and think of things that don’t exist yet.
And that’s what almost any business needs: original ways of thinking, seeing an opportunity where others see a problem, and being able to come up with something new.
In other words, your mind needs to be able to see what doesn’t yet exist, and that’s where imagination comes in.
The same is true for employees. In today’s workplace, this ability is highly appreciated. Practical knowledge and the ability to process information are still important, of course, but information itself is much easier to find than it used to be.
What can really make a difference is asking good questions and being able to think creatively.
Some people seem to have a naturally strong imagination, while others may need to work on it by exposing themselves to new experiences and practicing mental imagery. The test below will give you a general idea of where you stand: low, average, or high. As always, answer all the questions for the most reliable result.
I often catch myself imagining events that never happened.
True
False
I don’t know
Maybe
I often think of unusual ways to do ordinary things.
True
False
I don’t know
Maybe
I often imagine how things could be different from the way they are now.
True
False
I don’t know
Maybe
Whenever I read a book or watch a movie, I imagine being part of the story.
True
False
I don’t know
Maybe
I like to imagine how people lived centuries ago.
True
False
I don’t know
Maybe
I like to invent new things, even if they aren’t very practical.
True
False
I don’t know
Maybe
Generally, I look at things differently from other people.
True
False
I don’t know
Maybe
When I see something that could be improved, I start thinking of ways to change it.
True
False
I don’t know
Maybe
I rarely spend time imagining things that don’t exist.
True
False
I don’t know
Maybe
I usually prefer familiar solutions to trying something new.
True
False
I don’t know
Maybe
Coming up with new ideas isn’t one of my strong points.
True
False
I don’t know
Maybe
Your results will be displayed below.
What Your Score Means
LOW: You probably don’t spend a great deal of time imagining things that aren’t right in front of you. You may be more interested in facts, practical matters, and what is actually happening than in possibilities or imaginary situations. That doesn’t mean you aren’t creative. You may simply use your mind in a more practical way.
AVERAGE: You have a fairly active imagination, although you probably don’t live in it all the time. You can picture possibilities, invent scenarios, and think beyond what you can immediately see, especially when something catches your interest.
HIGH: You have a strong imagination. You probably find it easy to picture things that don’t exist, imagine other places or times, and come up with possibilities that other people may not immediately see. Imagination can be a useful part of creative thinking, although creativity also depends on what you do with those ideas.
You may also like Creativity Test: Curiosity, Imagination, Complexity, Risk Tolerance.
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