Since the early 1960s writers and researches have been talking about the traits of creative people. When I was working on my doctorate in creativity in the early 80s I did a survey of articles written from 1950 to 1980 that focused on the traits of creative people.

I read articles by over 130 people who reported over 300 different traits. While looking for patterns of clues in the information I gathered I discovered 32 traits that at least 5 experts agree on. The odd thing was that rarely did the same 5 agree on different traits.

Recently over the internet on four creativity and innovation lists I asked the members to report back up to twelve traits they believed were the traits of creative people. First gave them a starting list of 12 from Gary Davis' book, Creativity Forever.

First here is the starting list of 12 from Gary Davis.

1. adventurous
2. curious
3. enthusiastic
4. good sense of humor
5. high in energy
6. idealistic
7. independent
8. playful, childlike
9. reflective
10. risk-taking
11. self-confident
12. spontaneous
13. wide interests

Here is the list generated in response in a couple days over the internet.

• ability to really reach down inside & come up with successful & beneficial answers
• adaptive
• alert (in attitude)
• all things and possess "all traits" at one time or another
• analytical (3)
• attentive
   
  
• bold
• bruise-able
   
  
• centered
• challenging
• Compulsive
• contemplative
• Connected
• connection-makers
• contrary
• correlating of disparate empirical materials
• courageous
• crafty
   
  
• daring (2)
• discerning
• Does her own thing
• Doesn't follow directions
• Doesn't listen
• Driven
   
  
• Elated
• elegant
• encouraging
   
  
• fearless
• flexible (2)
• focused
• Frustrated
• fun-loving
   
  
• goofy
• graceful
• grateful
• Greedy
   
  
• Hard-headed, stubborn
• holistic
• hopeful
   
  
• imaginative
• impish
• impractical
• impudent
• impulsive
• In love
• Incomplete
• Inconsistent
• innovative
• inquisitive (2)
• instinctive
• Insubordinate
• intelligent (2)
• interdependent
• intergrative
• introspection
• intuitive
• irreverent
   
  
• journey lovers (as opposed to destination seekers)
• learning
• Manic-depressive
• meditative (2)
• mischievous
   
  
• noble
• non-judgemental
• nosey
• Not a team player
   
  
• open
• open-hearted (2)
• open-minded (3)
   
  
• paradoxical
• passionate
• patient
• pensive
• perceptive (2)
• persistent (2)
• philosophical
• playful
• practical
• pragmatic
• proud
   
  
• questioning
• refining
• relaxed
• resilient 2)
• resourceful (2)
• revisionary
   
  
• seemingly conflicting and/or opposite traits
• Self indulgent
• sensitive (3)
• sexy is a creativity positive trait
• strangely bold
• synesthetic (from synesthesia=all the senses)
• synthesizing
   
  
• teachable
• timid
• tolerant of ambiguity
• Tranced out
• trusting (2)
• trusting
   
  
• Under the influence of . . .
• unregimented
• unsatisfied
• Unteachable
• vigorous
• visionary (2)
• wacky
• wide horizons

Pshew!!! And I was looking for an easy answer. See what happens when you ask nearly 2,000 people from around the world a question over the internet. You get nearly 2,000 answers.

As when I did my reading survey, we can see there are many traits that people believe are the traits of creative people. Not all the writers agreed.

1. Some only sent in positive traits
2. Some only sent in negative traits
3. Others sent in both
4. A few analyzed the answers of the other people and made some interesting points yet tended to show their own personal bias.

Other writers made interesting points such as...

Rather than depending on traits, creativity seems to depend primarily on a person's level of development

Some people noticed for a few days all the traits sent in were positive.

Not all the traits, but all the traits listed tend to be flattering.

Then my CPSI friend Chris Barlow sent in his contrarian view...

There is one problem with these list of traits.
In many ways, what they really do is reverse map a culture.
They are maps of what it takes to be creative in a specific situation, not what it is to be creative in general.
So in a playful culture, a creative person might be one who thinks logically.

As a side point confirming Chris' excellent point, while I was working on my Masters of Art degrees I was working full time as an architect and went to class in the art studios right from work. I usually wore a suit or sports jacket and tie. Next to the other masters students I was the only non-conformist, the only creative.

It takes energy in most cultures to fight the boundaries and expectations, and isn't that what we mean by creativity?
For every trait, there are people who find creativity in its opposite.

My initial question was -- traits of creative people or creativeness in general. Only Chris responded to the overall question.

What is the answer?           It all depends.

What can you do with these traits? Examine them. Ask yourself which ones are you? Which ones are you at work? at home? with friends?

Do any of these traits cause you trouble?

Could you expand your creativeness and creative thinking by practicing and developing some of the traits you do not already possess?

I don't have an answer. I have a suggestion. Try it.

Take one or two of the traits that you do not believe are you or you do not think other people see in you and begin to practice or take them on for one month. Keep notes of what happens, reactions, personal feelings, any changes in your behavior and your creativeness or creative output.

Once again, being creative is a choice. Your Choice. Choose to be more creative today. Go be creative.

Footnote
Thank you to the following people for participating in the Creativity Challenge and sharing their ideas: Alice Macpherson, Bill Lindeman, Bob Carr, Debbie Brigman, Christopher M. Barlow, PhD, David Lintner, Ed Darrell, W. Forsyth, Jacqueline L Lowell, Johnny Molson, Leo Minnigh, Marcene S. Sonneborn, Pamela J. Shapiro, Peg Kelley, Penelope Kelly, Steve Randall