creativity toolkit: a guide for individuals and managers (2007)
DESCRIPTION
In one of my creative team meetings I felt that we could all learn a thing or two from Mr John Kao. He was the inspiration to deliver this Toolkit for my team and their managers.TRANSCRIPT
Epilogue
The Creativity ToolkitA guidebook for Monday Morning
With Thanks to John Kao.
Creative Individuals
INDIVIDUALS
Define the Creative Problem.
SHAPE YOUR CREATIVE INSPIRATIONTRANSFORM YOUR INSIGHTS INTO IDEAS
ESTABLISH THE FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH THE CREATIVE PROCESS UNFOLDS
INDIVIDUALS
Clear the Mind.
CREATIVITY COMES TO A RECEPTIVE MINDYOU WANT A BLANK SHEET OF MENTAL PAPER
FIND A DARK ROOM, A BRISK WALK, LAPS IN A POOL, LISTEN TO MUSIC?
INDIVIDUALS
Activate the imagination.
IMAGINATION STRENGTHENS WITH USE - IT’S LIKE A MUSCLEIGNORE LIMITS OF RESOURCES, SCIENCE AND LOGIC
FORCE YOUR THINKING INTO THE UNKNOWN
INDIVIDUALS
Wish.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT LANGUAGE CAN TRIGGER DREAMSSAYING ‘I WISH’, HELPS FOCUS ON WHAT YOU DESIRE, VALUE AND HOPE IS POSSIBLE
WISHING MOBILISES PASSION
INDIVIDUALS
Get a fresh perspective.
WHAT WOULD SOMEONE FROM A MOTORCYCLE GANG SAY ABOUT YOUR DESIGN?HOW WOULD MY 11-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, EMMA, RESPOND?
WHAT ABOUT THE GUY AT FSH?
INDIVIDUALS
Shake up your routine.
CHANGE YOUR WORKSPACE, HABITS, ROUTE, SCHEDULEJOLT YOUR FAMILIAR FRAME OF REFERENCE AND YOUR MIND FROM IT USUAL HABITS
READ ONLY DESIGN BOOKS? BUY A NOVEL.
INDIVIDUALS
Find your woodshed.
EVERY ARTIST HAS A WOODSHED - FIND YOUR PLACE THAT STIMULATES OUR CREATIVE PROCESSSILENT ROOM FAR FROM THE FRAY? THICK IN THE HUMAN CIRCUS?
WHEN YOU FIND YOUR SHOWER - DON’T GET OUT.
INDIVIDUALS
Expect to be creative.
ATHLETES WHO APPROACH THE STARTING BLOCK IMAGINING A WIN ARE MORE LIKLEY TO SUCCEED THAN THOSE WHO DOUBT THEIR ABILITIES
INDIVIDUALS
Keep track of the process.
CREATIVITY IS INTANGIBLE WORKJOT DOWN INSPIRATIONS IN A UBIQUITOUS BLANK NOTEBOOK TO MAKE IT TANGIBLETALK ABOUT YOUR CHALLENGE, SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE WHO WILL BEAR WITNESS
Creative Managers
MANAGERS
Know your role.
IT’S NOT ABOUT MICROMANAGING CREATIVE PROCESSES AND PEOPLEIT’S NOT ABOUT COMMAND AND CONTROL
IT’S ABOUT DEFINING THE PROBLEM AND SETTING THE BOUNDARIES
MANAGERS
Be protective.
YOUR TEAM IS YOUR BABY. GUARD IT FIERCELY.PASSIONATELY DEFEND FREE, OPEN, OFF-THE-WALL INTERACTION
MAKE IT SAFE
MANAGERS
Use theatrical gestures.
A STARTLING / VIVID GESTURE CAN CLEAR AND TURBOCHARGE THE MINDA NEW LOCATION? EXPECTATION? METAPHOR? OR FRO-FRIDAY?
SEND YOUR TEAM TO GOLD REEF CITY. OR FORMULAE 1 RACING SCHOOL.
MANAGERS
Secure a hot zone.
ANY TEAM REQUIRE A PHYSICAL SPACE THATS BOTH SAFE AND STIMULATINGREHEARSAL VS CONCERT HALL? SMALL ROOM VS AIRY LOFT?
DON’T IMPOSE. INSTEAD LISTEN AND RESPOND.
MANAGERS
Create microcultures.
TEAMS NEED A STRONG SENSE OF IDENTITY AND UNITYLOGOS, TRADEMARKS, FLAGS CAN CREATE VIVID METAPHORS FOR THE CHALLENGE
EVENTS AND WELL-TIMED SYMBOLIC ACTS BOOST SPIRIT
MANAGERS
Master the art of conversation.
MANAGEMENT OCCURS THROUGH CONVERSATIONIT’S A TOOL TO SET BOUNDARIES, ASSIGN TASKS, MONITOR PROGRESS, STATE EXPECTATIONS,
ASK QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE INPUT
MANAGERS
Make time an ally.
SYNCRONISE SCHEDULES, TIMETABLES AND DEADLINESESPECIALLY AMONGST CREATIVE FOLKS WHO VIEW TIME VERY DIFFERENTLY FROM THE REST
MANAGERS
Set boundaries.
EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE NEED EXTRAORDINARY BOUNDARIESCREATIVE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THERE ARE LIMITS TO FREEDOM
MANAGERS
Practice the art of sitting out.
SEEK CREATIVITY OUTSIDE THE CORPORATE WALLS
MANAGERS
Trumpet your creativity.
IT’S A POWERFUL COMPETITIVE EDGELET YOUR MARKETPLACE, ORGANISATION, FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES KNOW YOU’VE GOT IT
For all of us
ALL OF US
Define our creative credo.EXPERIMENTS MUST BE UNRESTRAINED
NOBLE FAILURE IS HONORABLECREATIVITY IS A PROCESS AND NOT AN EVENT
EVERYONE IS CREATIVEALL IDEAS ARE WELCOME
PREMATURE CLOSURE AND EXCESSIVE JUDGMENT ARE CARDINAL SINSLINK CREATIVITY TO STRATEGY
;-)
KEEPING IT LOOSEY GOOSEY BABE