A sign in the Washington DC airport captured my attention. It said innovation is the key to solving the health care crisis. The ad was for an insurance company that was promoting the fact they’re working on innovative solutions toward health care. Nice!
But the message made me wonder. Are organizations really ready for innovation? And if they are – don’t we need creative people to fuel the innovation train? Whenever I have these philosophical moments, I rely on the dictionary to help me clarify my thoughts. According to Merriam-Webster,
- Innovation is the introduction of something new. A new idea, method or device.
- Creativity is the ability to produce through imaginative skill (rather than imitate).
In pondering the two definitions, it seems to me that we need to have a certain amount of creativity in order to have innovation. Here’s my reasoning.
- If you create something new, then chances are it took some creativity.
- If you didn’t create something new, then it’s not innovation. That’s imitation.
So if the sign in the airport is right and innovation is the key to solving the health care crisis (or any crisis for that matter) then, where’s this innovation going to come from?
In my town, school budgets are facing drastic cuts and teachers are being furloughed. Subjects like art, music and physical education are being removed from curriculums to save costs. I saw an episode of Top Chef (I know, reality TV – don’t judge me) where I heard schools are given approx. $2 per child to prepare a nutritious school lunch. Is that even possible?
It left me empty handed. Where does a person learn creativity? And, can you be creative if your stomach is growling?
A recent article in Newsweek says CEOs identified creativity as the numero uno leadership competency of the future. The same article cited a study from the College of William & Mary saying creativity scores have significantly declined in the last decade. We have to allow time for creativity – in both the education arena as well as the corporate world. Being able to develop some level of creativity will allow innovation to occur. The innovation we need to build the future.
Zen Habits published a post called “The No. 1 Habit of Highly Creative People”. They say it’s solitude. What do you say? Where do you get your creative energy? Leave me a note in the comments.
Image courtesy of oddsock
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Julie says
I do agree with Newsweek’s article regarding Innovation/Creativity as the best feature for a CEO. The outside environment is changing so rapidly today, that companies need to be able to adapt using creativity to differentiate themselves from the clutter. Without it, companies will fail quickly.This is something that Gen Y needs to keep in mind as we enter the workforce and move up the ladder.
Very well written article! I enjoyed it 🙂
@Jskow1
akaBruno says
Is this a byproduct of the economic recession and high unemployment? Are people less willing to be creative and take risks as the costs of failure may be much higher than when the economy is performing well?
Sharlyn Lauby says
@Julie – Thanks for the comment. Qualities like innovation, creativity, speed and agility continue to be discussed as key competencies for leaders.
@akaBruno – It’s a good question. The William & Mary study notes creativity has been dropping for the past decade. So does that mean when the economy is performing well there’s no need to be creative? And now when we need it…we can’t afford to fund it?
Gary Wise says
I would agree with the Zen Habit of “solitude” to engage one’s brain, but think there needs to be some group “solitude” from the chaos of work so that work teams can brainstorm and thrash about on new ideas and new thinking. It feels sometimes that we’re running with such velocity just to “keep up” that we can run right by opportunities to innovate had creativity not been relegated to a secondary effort.
Sylvia Dahlby says
CEOs say they value creativity – but so many organizations have mechanisms in place that crush initiative and make innovation difficult.
It’s human nature to resist change. Creative types and those who buck the status quo are still often seen as weirdos. Let’s face it, genius is close to insanity. For all the talk about valuing new ideas, it usually doesn’t play out that way unless you work for Google where everyone is a weirdo.
@Gary touches on an interesting point: The TMI phenomenon of social media & internet information overload may be interfering with human ability to focus and think deeply about things. I believe there is a need for time-out, solitude & contemplation so necessary for original thinking. There’s a book about this I’ve been meaning to read:
The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains
Sharlyn Lauby says
@Gary – Thanks for the comment. I’d agree there is value in a good old-fashioned brainstorming session. Sometimes we’re so anti-meeting and focused on speed (as you mentioned) we forget the benefits of tossing ideas around.
@Sylvia – I like your connection between creativity and the internet. There’s so much info out there. I was just commenting to Mr. B – when do we find time to connect the dots from all the things we’re reading about?
Dani says
I am a co-founder of a tech services provider. Most of our people are on the more ‘experienced’ side of life and therefore are ridiculously expensive to cover. The proposed Health Care ‘Solution’ is pure:
INSANITY, craziness or madness is a spectrum…abnormal mental or behavioral patterns. Insanity may manifest as violations of societal norms, …, though not all such acts are considered insanity. …en.wikipedia
On creativity: Starting a new company allows employees and 1099ers to have some skin in the game and brings everyone’s creativity bubbling and sometimes gushing to the surface. We have to be agile and are still small enough that we can make quick changes. Larger companies collapse under their own weight thereby stiffling/suffocating creative people.
A thought on the Internet: Could this be a L brain/R brain (rules based thinking vs process based thinking) situation? My IT guys use me as a guinea pig for process because I think so differently from them.
Glenn Hansen says
Too many people in business simply say “I’m not a creative type” and this gives them an excuse to just do things the old way. Yes, some people do have a more creative gift than others, but creativity is not the sole license of “the creatives.” It doesn’t require solitude, loads of coffee, sleep deprivation, or designer jeans.
The creative process that leads to innovative practice requires simply an open mind. And as Sylvia Dahlby mentioned, organizations can have a tendency to kill creativity. I’ve been in organizations like that. But they can’t really kill creativity. They can wound it, even put it in a coma, but with care and tending, it can return stronger and healthier.
Care for creativity in your organization with an open mind.
Sharlyn Lauby says
Wow! I’m really enjoying reading everyone’s comments. Lots to think about.
@Dani – I do agree there’s a connection between agility and creativity. The idea that it’s connected to rules-based vs process-based thinking is fascinating.
@Glenn – Excellent point about making excuses. If organizations accept them, then they are being indifferent to creativity and what it can bring.
Dimitrios Fliakos says
Sylvia read my mind, but over the last few years, it’s even worse than corporate mechanisms. It’s a fear-based employment model which completely crushes creativity, and stifles innovation. When there’s a line of people ready to step into your job, staying below the radar and KEEPING your job turns into priority 1. If this continues, it’s going to kill the very thing that made this country great. akaBruno, the answer is “yes” and “definitely”.
Some of my most creative moments have occurred over meals with talented peers. Three glasses of wine, and I’m Einstein. 🙂
Sharlyn Lauby says
Hi Dimitrios. I’ve heard of that creative method. ha.ha.
Excellent point. Creativity can exist only when organizations encourage it and reward it. If employees are trying to stay under the radar, then everyone is in maintenance mode and the innovation we need to move forward won’t take place.
Somehow we have to break the cycle of disengagement.
Jayme Rivera says
Super article!
I was asked what some of my strengths are in an interview and I said creativity and they just looked at me with a blank stare. Elaborating more on how you’re creative, what you think creative is and what you’re going to bring to the table is what I learned they’re looking for.
Sharlyn Lauby says
@Jayme – Thanks for sharing! You’re right…creativity might be too broad of a term and providing specific examples gives it the focus it deserves.
Yve Alcide says
I am very impress by the comment here. Very good insight …hats off to all of you.
Tariq says
really nice discussion going on regarding creativity and @leadership….. agreed to Yve Alcide, really nice insight …. 🙂