Creativity Myths

Sustained myths about Creativity and Innovation lead to confusion, bad practice and bad decision making. Some of them include:

1. Creativity requires Creative Types

While some theorists assert that there are creativity traits such as tolerance for ambiguity and intolerance to conformity, these assertions are countered by the fact that traits are hard to identify and are not stable nor transferable across situations. Further, motivation is a critical factor. Additionally, creativity is a cognitive process and thus measurements like "she looks creative" are poor benchmarks. All the research shows that everyone can produce novel, useful, varied, diverse ideas and looking for certain types to come up with them reduces total valuable output.

2. Money is the best Motivator

Material reward is a synergistic extrinsic motivator. That means that it is a factor that enhances intrinsic motivation but may not in itself cause maximum creative effort and output ? there are at least six other motivators that are as valuable. Additionally, the exact level of material reward very positively correlates to that received by peer groups.

3. Time Pressure drives Creativity

Yes and no. There are at least three conflicting forces:

a) Time pressure increases creative output. By forcing idea production, setting goals and incremental deadlines, a greater number of ideas are produced than if a "do your best" approach is taken. This action benefits from the positives of prolific production and other processes.

b) Time pressure may be a non-synergistic extrinsic motivator. It reduces the level of engagement in the endeavour and inhibits intrinsic motivation.

c) Short-term time pressure does not allow the mind to engage in the endeavour at various cognitive levels. It does not allow rich ideas to formulate through the process of incubation.

4. Competition outperforms Collaboration

Competition causes many people to shut down and introduces many negatives such as core and peripheral groups, politicking and restriction of information. Collaboration, on the other hand, allows the intellectual cross pollination that is the raw material for good idea generation.

5. Creativity and Innovation can be used interchangeably

The terms Creativity and Innovation are often used interchangeably but they are, in fact, separate and distinct. Creation can be described as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation is idea selection, development and commercialisation. The distinctions alone lead to numerous conclusions. Among them is the fact that:

a) Creativity and Innovation leaders require at least six different competencies (including one holistic) to even begin Managing Creativity and Innovation (actually, many more are needed).

b) Both Creativity and Innovation require different structures, processes and skill sets.

c) Workshop facilitators should split sessions into distinct parts and formulate frameworks and processes to maximise output at each level.

************************************

These and other topics are covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased at http://www.managing-creativity.com

************* ***********************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as the author's name, web address and link to MBA dissertation is retained.

Kal Bishop MBA
Kal is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller.

---

How To Discover Hidden Talents Within You And Begin Appyling Them In Your Life Now

Have you decided it may be time to start creating... Read More

Why Creative Visualization Works

Experience has shown that creative visualization works. It is quite... Read More

The Source of Growth and Creativity

Bare attention (to objects, people and circumstances) is what brings... Read More

Creativity Management ? The Value Of An Idea?

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Creativity Management ? Measurement, Benchmarking, and Improvement

Contrary to common perception, creativity can be made tangible, measurable... Read More

Mindfulness and Poetry: Delicious Word Awareness

Everyone's a poet.Of course, everyone's a critic, too! This means... Read More

A Question of Time and Memory

I have been struck recently by a number of questions... Read More

How You Can Improve Your Creativity - What You Need to Know

Would you like to enhance your creativity? Do you think... Read More

Take Time To Think

I recently saw a program on television wherein the participants... Read More

Three Ways Journaling Can Boost Your Creativity and Your Business

I have a friend who has struggled with her creativity... Read More

A New Discovery Of An Old Secret

Some years ago, when the world seemed to close in... Read More

Creativity Management ? Sustainability through Passion

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Be Creative to Get Money

Creativity alone can make you money and no matter what... Read More

Seeing Problems From Their Creative Side

Did you know that winning actually puts less wear and... Read More

Brainstorming Effectively

BRAINSTORMING: The basic tool used in generating many possible solutions... Read More

Turning Obstacles Into Blessings

"Your capacity to be creatively alive in virtually all life... Read More

The Creativity Creed

I believe that creativity is a natural order of life... Read More

Creative Drought

For the past several hours, I've struggled with this week's... Read More

Top Five Journal Exercises

Keeping a journal is a form of creative expression that... Read More

Improvisation in Life and the Arts: What I learned from Free Play by Stephen Nachmanovitch

Can you be an artist while you're washing the dishes?In... Read More

Ideas

While the inception of penicillin brought a bit of a... Read More

Are You A Creative Meathead?

Remember Archie Bunker's description of what a Meathead was on... Read More

Art, Artists and Money

Practical money tips for people in the arts.1. Sock it... Read More

Tap the Creative Inside You

Imagination is the source of creativity. It's a place where... Read More

Tips on Breaking the Creative Block

There's no question that creating anything is hard to do.... Read More

Creativity Management ? Artists and Creativity

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

How To Increase Creativity... Set Deadlines!

Deadlines are something all of us face from time to... Read More

Sing & Be Well

When people find out that I'm a music therapist, the... Read More

Business Innovation ? Personal Creativity

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

How To Master Your Game

Learn how to master your area of endeavor the right... Read More

The Secret of Intuitive Intelligence

The word intuition comes from the Latin word intueri, meaning... Read More

Dancing On Your Brain: The Cha-Cha Effect

My grandmother used to say that the secret to living... Read More

5 Ways to Enhance Your Creativity

We're born creative. However, this innate characteristic becomes buried as... Read More