Make Any Surface a “White Board” Surface

I really like dry-erase whiteboards.

They’re great for brainstorming, sketching up ideas, keeping track of deliverables in projects, and they’re wonderfully, (though sometimes too easily and other times impossibly) erasable.

Now you can turn any surface (usually a wall) into a dry-erase whiteboard with Idea Paint (Thanks to the W5 Blog!).

While I may paint a wall in the office, this has gotten me thinking beyond usage on walls…there’s some cool potential here.

How can you see this being used?

People of Hope are More Creative

 

Came across this interesting blog post over at “Innovation in Practice”.

There was a study done which showed that people with hope filled perspectives were more creative (and hence are more innovative as well.) 

The goal then, for management, should be creating and instilling hope through the ranks of the organization.

How does one instill hope? 

While that can be difficult to pin down, there are some great perspectives and suggestions in this article on instilling hope:

1. Managers should lead by example and be hopeful
2. The workplace should be a positive place to work
3. The workplace shouldn’t have an environment of fear
4. Blame shouldn’t be part of the environment
5. Everyone should be treated with the same respect regardless of  ‘rank’
6. Help employees to do the best job possible
7. Include employees in the goal setting process
8. Create a common, shared vision

To this list I would also add:  Instill a culture where constant improvement is the goal and empower the employees to be able to make those changes.

What else would you say should be done to create a culture of hope?

Cross-Cultural Immersion to Boost Creativity

Read this thought provoking study about how people who have to move to, and live in a different country and experience a different culture become more creative.  It’s almost as if something clicks within them and they view the world, and problems they encounter, in a different, more creative way.

The study showed that it wasn’t just travelling abroad but living abroad that made the difference.  To me, this implies that it’s the forced nature of new experiences and the fact that new languages, new cultural aspects must be learned that helps trigger the increase in creativity.

Though in some ways it looks like the study might not be structured in the best way, nevertheless, I have the following observations and questions.

1. Countries, like the USA, who have a large population of immigrants that come in and adjust and become part of the culture at large, should, in theory, have a great resource of ‘extra’-creative people.  In some ways, the growth of small business in the US brought about by folks who are following the “American Dream” could be proof of this.
2. If immigrants don’t try and learn the language of the main country they live and learn its culture, will they get that creative boost? I would say probably not.
3. Are children of the immigrants, who often learn both their parents’ and their birth country’s language and culture, getting the creative boost? I would say ‘yes’.
4. What happens when people must live in multiple, markedly different countries? Do these people get a new boost in every country they live in?
5. Can just learning a new language well and using it give the boost?  Again, I would say probably ‘yes.’

What do you think about this study?  Are there other ways that this creativity “boost” might be stimulated?

If Creativity is for the Birds, it Should be for People Too

Lesson in Creativity From the Rook

It is not uncommon for management, team leaders, etc. to have a predisposition towards having only the “creative” geniuses provide the creative input in brainstormings, strategy meetings, etc.

I strongly believe that this view can hinder creative output as all people have, and should be appreciated for, their innate creative capabilities –  whoever they are, whatever their positions.

Moreso, when people are allowed to use their creative abilities, they often will contribute in ways that were not anticipated and thus provide innovative impetus to the work at hand.

I came across this fascinating research out of Cambridge.  They did some research on the tool making capabilities of a bird called the ‘rook.‘  What is really amazing is that rooks don’t make tools in the wild, but they do in captivity.  And, not only do they make tools, they pick the best tools for certain  jobs. And, when the needed tools were out of reach, they used a tool to get the right tool!

There are some great lessons to glean here and apply in our teams, workplaces, and homes.

1. Sometimes creativity shows up when people are out of their natural element.  It might help to put people in non-threatening environments that are different from the norm and let them do their thing.
2. Let your people determine the best tools for a job.
3. If the right tools don’t exist, let people make the tools that they will use to do their jobs.  That means two things: a) Take them seriously and listen if they say there’s a better way, b) Supply them with the raw materials they ask for.
4. Sometimes the tool that someone uses will just be a stepping stone in the process of getting or making the right tool.  Don’t interrupt the creative process!

Ultimately, creating tools is about creating solutions. 

So just think:

If birds came up with these cool solutions, what could you and your teams do with open minds?

People + System + Passion = Successful Culture of Innovation

The Underdogs Win It All

People of the United States love the underdog.

People of the United States put “A” performers on pedestals.

Therein lies the basis of an schizophrenic dichotomy in the American Spirit.

Underdogs, by definition are not “A” performers. 

And, since everybody loves winners, we’d rather not be the underdog; we’d rather stack our deck with “A” performers because it increases our odds of not losing.

Not losing is not the same as winning – as rocking the world.

Sports history is full of stories of teams that are full of “B” and “C” performers, but yet they win it all (the picture of the USA Hockey “Miracle on Ice” is one such team). 

There are also stories of teams (The New York Yankees come to mind, there are others) who consistently have “A” performers but they come up short.  Why is that?

Being a winning team is about being creative, innovative, realistic, passionate and oriented towards success.

Oriented towards success?

It means that everyone on the team is firing on all cylinders, that the modus operandi of the team is tuned to success; people play to their strengths, not their weaknesses, there is a system of success at work.

Creativity and innovation are percolating in your organization.  Look at your teams and follow the GROW!™ Process.

You’ve hired people for a reason.

They’re your lifeline

They’re your innovation

What are your thoughts on team dynamics and the need for “A” players in order to achieve success?

Optimizing Your Environment for Creativity

Courtesy of creativeenvironments.biz

Researchers have found that the color blue does a better job of bringing out the creativity in people while red drives accuracy.

Interesting study.  I would guess that while there may be cultural component to this (in China, Red is good luck and success), I think there might be some universal aspect in that blue is the natural appearance of the sky and of water. Blue sky is also related to country environments, and perhaps this is also related to the ability to be able to relax.  In other words, blue has alot going for it.

The bigger picture here (colored blue of course) is that our surroundings can and do influence our work and our play. 

Think of how stepping into a room with cathedral ceilings inspires an open spirit and how low ceilings feel limiting.

Think of how natural lighting seems so pleasing and conducive to work while fluorescent lighting seems sterile and cold.

Research in schools show that natural lighting increased productivity, reduced health problems, and didn’t negatively effect stress hormones.

Then there’s the Feng Shui school of thought-that room design be optimized for energy flow.  Regardless of one’s philosophical beliefs in Feng Shui, rooms and spaces organized according to it have a nice harmony to them-they’re pleasing to the senses.  That can only be a good thing.

Then there’s this fascinating work by an artist seeking to beautify  a New York subway tunnel. The entire paper talks about the interplay of  light and environment in public places.

Last but not least, it seems crime decreases in those neighborhoods that are kept clean and orderly as opposed to dishevelled.

The impact of environment is huge when it comes to creative endeavors.

So when you’re frustrated, feeling ill at ease, not feeling creative,  there may be some elements of your environment that are not encouraging to your endeavors.

Use the list below to do an environmental check next time you’re stuck and find a way to immerse yourself in the optimum environment.  

Color -Seek out blue environments, or at least brightly colored environments

Light – Seek out natural lighting, the light of day

Boundaries – Seek out open spaces and higher ceilings

Smell – Seek out those areas that have neutral or positive smells; pleasing without inducing hunger or displeasure

Temperature – If too hot or too cold, seek the moderate, temperate areas

Sound – Seek out music that inspires and elevates; natural environments and sounds.

Peace/Harmony/Beauty – Seek out areas that represent peace, external and internal peace, quietude, orderliness, flowing

What would you add to this list?

What makes your optimum creative environment?