Chance favours the prepared mind
The approaches that businesses use for brainstorming are widespread (almost universal) and date back to the work of Alex Osborn in the late 1940s. In his new book Imagine, Jonah Lehrer argues that some of the assumptions for these tools are wrong, and that we need to rethink, at least in part, how we understand and practise the creative process, basing his arguments on scientific studies and latest brain science. Read more »
“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in the mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to to see that things are hopeless yet be determined to make them otherwise.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald
“Everything should be as simple as possible, but no simpler.” - Albert Einstein
Connecting the dots
Are you drowning in the sea of data yet? As the world becomes more and more complex, with more and more information to understand and less and less time to do this, the importance of integrative thinking becomes more and more important. In The Opposable Mind, Roger Martin presents a number of convincing business case studies, including A.G. Lafley at P&G, Jack Welch at GE, Michael Lee-Chin at AIC and Martha Graham (who revolutionised modern dance), all of whom were able to see problems from a range of perspectives, think in terms of total systems and not component parts, and simplify complex ideas into straight forward (and often disruptive) solutions to problems. Read more »
Dan Pink’s post on solving problems by sharing them intrigued and inspired me. He reports recent research which shows that we are quicker and better at solving problems when we are solving them for other people than when we solve them for ourselves, and we get better and better the ‘further’ away we are from the person. Put another way, the more we are able to distance ourselves from a problem, the more abstract and creative our problem solving is. It can really help your perspective to trade places with someone else (as Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy discovered). Read more »
“He who laughs most, learns best.” - John Cleese
John Cleese talks about the basis of creativity in our unconscious mind in this great video clip (thanks to @heartofinnovation for drawing my attention to this). He also highlights some great tips for creating the right conditions for creativity :
“I view my role more as trying to set up an environment where the personalities, creativity and individuality of all the different employees come out and can shine.” - Tony Hsieh
“There’s no half singing in the shower. you’re either a rock star or an opera diva.” - Josh Groban
I don’t often sing in the shower (don’t worry – you haven’t missed much!). However, I get many of my best ideas there, and based on conversations with friends, I think they do too. Why is that?
“Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.” - Edward de Bono
“If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play.” - John Cleese
Is there a secret?
The secret to creativity is not to overcomplicate the creative process. At heart, most of us know what’s really required. There is no magic solution or silver bullet. No one can guarantee a ground-breaking idea either, and the secret to success is to keep doing it!
“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” - Mary Lou Cook
“Stay young, stay foolish.” - Steve Jobs
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” - Albert Einstein
“Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect.” - Steven Wright
I really enjoyed Dave Trott’s article “A creative mind is an enquiring mind” and recommend everyone to read it. He is right that curiosity is what makes us creative, having an open mind, pursuing diverse interests, challenging assumptions, and above all asking lots of questions. We are naturally born to be curious, and as children are enthusiastic in asking ‘why?’ (and just as importantly ‘why not?’). The key to creativity is to keep the child within us, the enjoyment of playing, and to never be afraid to ask ‘why?’. Albert Einstein was known for his playful side and his childlike enthusiasm for new ideas and challenges – similarly Dave Trott describes the sheer fun and enjoyment that four modern scientists had in talking about some of their favourite heroes and ideas.
“To know one thing, you must know the opposite.” – Henry Moore
“The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth.” – Niels Bohr
