Harvard ManageMentor ® Building a Creative and Innovative Team

2 Harvard ManageMentor: Building a Creative and Innovative Team Discussion Topics  Critical steps in the creative process  Characteristics of creative groups  Building intellectual diversity © Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

3 Harvard ManageMentor: Building a Creative and Innovative Team Critical Steps in the Creative Process  What examples in our organization can we point to where creativity was required to achieve a successful outcome?  What are examples of key steps or activities the person or team went through to achieve a creative result?  Can we leverage any these steps and activities in our group? If so, how? © Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

4 Harvard ManageMentor: Building a Creative and Innovative Team Characteristics of a Creative Group  When you’ve been a member of a successful team, or watched one in action, what did you notice were the team characteristics or work habits that led to a creative solution?  What practical steps can our team take to maximize its creative potential? © Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

5 Harvard ManageMentor: Building a Creative and Innovative Team Building Intellectual Diversity  Got diversity? Answer yes or no for our group: 1.Group members seem reluctant to disagree with one another? 2.Group needs more radical innovations than it is currently generating? 3.Group has been working together for more than three years? 4.Group members tend to agree rapidly on what to do? 5.There are minority opinions in the group that are no being heard?  What do you think the survey results suggest about our current level of intellectual diversity?  What ideas do you have for maintaining or enhancing the team’s potential? © Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

6 Harvard ManageMentor: Building a Creative and Innovative Team Next Steps  Take a moment to consider some of the specific steps you can take to foster a more creative, innovative team.  Consider working through one or two of the Innovation and Creativity Tools to deepen your knowledge and team performance. Recommendations include: Creativity Checklist Form for Setting a Target for Creative Change © Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.