Creativity & Leadership Jeanne Michalski, Ph.D.

Creativity & Leadership MANAGEMENT vs. LEADERSHIP

Creativity & Leadership Managers – See Different Things Leaders – See Things Differently

Creativity & Leadership Managers – Motivate People Leaders – Inspire Them

Leadership Experience + Creativity + Management =

Experience Experience is essentially the accumulation of “Assets”: Skills Knowledge Credentials

Experience Experience leads to an understanding of cause and effect: Look at the big picture Work environments are not stable Events don’t often happen in isolation Chain of events

Experience Experience also means developing contacts: Knowledgeable others Diverse viewpoints Professional and personal Networking Inexperienced people tend to be captive to a small circle of acquaintances

Management Management functions: Scheduling activities Assigning responsibilities Training Resource allocation Anticipating problems Coordination with outside entities Monitoring results

Creativity Creativity – what is it? Are you a creative person?

Creativity Creativity – what is it? Some define creativity as - Something needed when there are no models in our experience for a problem’s solution Transforming one thing into another The making of the new or rearranging of the old in an new way Innovative ideas take hard work and effort. They don’t just fall from the sky.

Creativity Some men see things that are, and ask 'Why?' I see things that never were, and ask 'Why not?' Robert F. Kennedy

Creativity Creativity: Novel associations that lead to new outcomes

Creativity Requirements for creativity: A pool of inputs The ability to see novel connections amongst them The courage to pursue them

Creativity oholene

Creativity Barriers To Creativity Psychological Barriers Cultural Barriers Environmental Barriers Thinking Language Blocks Functional Fixedness Habitual Ways of Visualizing

How can we enhance our Creativity Relax Expand your horizons Listen Read Observe Don’t sweat mistakes Seek agreement to be creative up front

Originally Extracted from: “A Whack on the Side of the Head: How to Unlock Your Mind for Innovation” by Roger Von Oech Publisher: Warner Books; (October 1983) ASIN:

Why be Creative? 1. CHANGE When new information comes into existence and circumstances change, it is no longer possible to solve today’s problems with yesterday’s solutions. 2. FUN

“Mental Locks” that get in the way of Creative Thinking “There is only one right answer” Tip: A good way to be more creative is to look for the second right answer. There are many ways to pursue this answer, but the important thing is to do it.

“Mental Locks” that get in the way of Creative Thinking “That’s not logical!” – All answers must be practical Tip: For more and better ideas, use a good dose of soft thinking in the germinal phase, and a hearty helping of hard thinking in the practical phase.

“Mental Locks” that get in the way of Creative Thinking “”Mistakes must be avoided at all costs” Tips – If you make an error, use it as a stepping- stone to some new idea you might not have otherwise discovered. - Strengthen your “risk muscle”. Everyone has one, but you have to exercise it or else it will atrophy. Make it a point to take at least one risk every twenty- four hours. - Remember these two benefits of failure: First, if you do fail, you learn what doesn’t work. And second, the failure gives you an opportunity to try a new approach.

“Mental Locks” that get in the way of Creative Thinking “That’s not my area - Solutions come from specialists” Tips – Develop the hunter’s attitude, the outlook that wherever you go, there are ideas waiting to be discovered. - Don’t get so busy that you lose the free time necessary for idea hunting. Schedule hunting time into your day and week. Little side excursions can lead to new hunting grounds. - Look for analogous situations. Often problems similar to yours have been solved in other areas.

“Mental Locks” that get in the way of Creative Thinking “Don’t be Foolish” Tips – Occasionally, let your “stupid monitor” down, play the fool, and see what crazy ideas you can come up with. - Recognize when you or others are conforming or putting down the fool. Otherwise, you may be setting up a “groupthink” situation.

How can we enhance our Creativity Criticize kindly Look beyond the answer Write down all the ideas Use “brainstorming” Value and seek out diversity Ask for feedback

Creative Leadership Good News:Creativity barriers can be overcome. Bad News:You have to work at it!!