Maslow’s theory recognized that humans have lower-level and higher-level needs. While the details of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs were proven invalid, there are certain aspects of his theory that are accurate. His model has become the foundation of many other theories of motivation and has a lot of heuristic value.   

 

1. For the most part, we must satisfy lower-level needs to attain higher-level needs. This is not always true, as there are exceptions, but for the sake of this discussion, we will assume so.  

2. The lower-level needs include needs such as safety and physiological needs.  

3. The higher-level needs include needs such as belongingness and esteem.  

 

To his point, as far as creativity goes, it is difficult for us to feel motivated to create when we have needs for food, drink, and shelter. We tend to focus on satisfying those needs before we can engage in creative thinking.  

  

Herzberg took Maslow’s model one step further. He theorized that our needs are divided into two categories. Like Maslow’s higher and lower-level needs, he identified two different dimensions: hygiene and motivation. Therefore, his theory is known as the two-factor theory or the motivator-hygiene theory. Pay, benefits, security, and status are considered hygiene factors. Meaningful and challenging work, along with recognition and accomplishments, are considered motivating factors. When we feel a sense of accomplishment and have increased levels of responsibility, we feel motivated. When we have opportunities for growth, we feel motivated to thrive. This, in turn, gives us the ability to be creative.  

  

Creativity is a state of mind. It is a state of motivation and desire to innovate. For us to feel it, we need to experience job satisfaction. When we do not feel satisfied, we do not feel motivated and cannot be creative. Pressure cooker work environments characterized by micromanagement and hostility do not facilitate innovation. They only promote a need to survive. While we often think about a starving artist creating art while struggling to survive, this stereotype is generally not true. Even the starving artists are not literally starving. They tend to live a simple and minimalistic lifestyle that may be conducive to creativity. Detachment from distractions, such as unnecessary materialistic needs, can give a person the ability to focus on their creative endeavors. However, basic survival needs must be satisfied before reaching a creative peak.  

  

Another interesting point on creativity is to be creative one must possess the mental framework for it. That is, they must have the technical skills needed for it. One cannot create pieces of art without having the art skills to do so. A painter cannot paint without painting skills. A composer cannot create music without knowing the notes. Writers must have adequate language and writing skills to create literature. We cannot create in a vacuum without any preliminary skills. Creativity must be nurtured, and skills must be practiced from an early age or honed through education. Innovation requires a foundation to flourish.  

  

 Another avenue of creativity is dream incubation. Our brains work harder when we are sleeping than when we are awake. While we sleep, our brains can solve problems for us. To promote this, work on a creative problem before going to sleep and keep it top of mind as you begin to sleep. Utilizing dream incubation can help us find solutions to our creative roadblocks in our dreams.  

 

Creativity is required for innovation. There are many practical ways to improve creativity once the required motivational needs are met. For us to be properly motivated, we need job satisfaction, and our lower level needs to be met. Consistent struggles and stress make creativity almost impossible, but unfortunately, that is a common state for people these days. We are so distracted by our daily demands that we simply do not have the time to create. Innovation is advanced when we push past these impediments to creativity.