What do you need to be creative?
Creativity is required in our day-to-day jobs. As a leader, understanding what each employee needs to be their most creative is extremely important. Especially when you are trying to create new products or services through the knowledge of your employees. It is very important to create the “field” within which employees can be their most creative, and often Communities are the best place to create that field. For new creative products or services, it is best to bring together individuals with varying backgrounds, not individuals with the same knowledge and experience. It’s diversity that creates the best new and innovative ideas. But understanding and managing those diverse needs will determine success or failure.
Let me give you an example…. My creative process kicks into high gear when I talk with someone. If I am to work at my most creative level, allow me to talk with people about my ideas. Inevitably, my idea will evolve, shift, and move like an ameoba every time I talk with someone. It’s not that I change my mind, it’s that each encounter feeds my ideas and at each step perfects my thoughts. And, let me just say, that this is not a preference, this is a fundamental requirement for me to work. I definitely am not the type of person that you tell to go off and think about something and come back later with a solution. That would be like telling me to go and write an article without using my hands.
This is in distinct contrast to someone like my husband who’s creativity comes from alone time and physical labor. He processes information best through physical movement. Don’t expect him to give you a response to a question right away. He needs time for his brain to process it and to go into that file cabinet of a brain and bring out all the possible pieces of information and experiences related to that request. He needs to cogitate by himself and then he can come back and talk about it.
If I force him to respond immediately, I’m doomed. I won’t get anything from him. But, if I plant my request like a seed, and then come back later, I am greeted with a full grown plant around which we can have that conversation and dialogue that I need in order to eventually come up with the best and most creative idea.
Between his process and mine, there is significant disconnect in the timing of creativity. The key here is to recognize the differences and build out a new way of working that supports both processes. If you do, then you will find that you have created a highly effective creative community where all members are able to bring their most creative selves to creating new and innovative products and services.
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Hi, Where are you from? Is it a secret?
Elcorin