Back in 2010 we wrote a blog on How to help people to have good ideas.
http://levelsevenlive.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-to-help-people-to-have-good-ideas.html
In this article we summarised some of the key challenges that can get in the way of creative endeavour. These challenges were identified as: the physical environment, personal attitude towards creativity and organisational culture.
In light of our more recent work and interest in the intersection of design thinking and coaching for potential, we are reminded of how enjoyable and productive creative thinking can be for those willing to spend time exercising their creative muscles. Not only is creative thinking an integral aspect of the ideation phase of design thinking but we are also finding it is a key aspect in our coaching work to help shift a person’s perspective. But what gets in the way of a person or team developing their creative capacity?
“If you think you can or think you can’t – you are right” – a quote attributed to Henry Ford that unfortunately reinforces how individuals often think about their creative capacity. Sadly, many people view the capacity for creativity as polar opposites taking one of these stances – I am creative or I am not creative. Dr Carol Dwek’s book, Mindset: Changing the way you think to fulfil your potential suggests that our mindset plays a critical part in the capacity to develop, learn and grow. She describes how people with a fixed mindset believe that innate capacity and talent is the reason people achieve a level of attainment, which they believe is inherently fixed and any judgement on their performance is viewed as detrimental. However, those with a growth mindset believe their level of attainment is due to effort, practice and perseverance, they welcome feedback and embrace failure as part of the learning process. The good news is that according to Dwek, mindsets can be changed.
So, to promote the benefits of developing a growth mindset and the benefits it brings to the creative process come and join us to celebrate creativity and innovation week in April 2021. You might just learn something and have some fun too!