Unpacking the “Magic” of Creativity€¦ · Unpacking the “Magic” of Creativity Create or Fail: ... Dealing with constant, even chaotic, change You Must Become Even Better

Unpacking the “Magic” of Creativity

Create or Fail: Seeking the Competitive Advantage

Robert J. Bies, Ph.D.

To Survive, Let Alone Thrive, in the 21st Century…

You Must Become More Like Indiana Jones…Why?

The shrinking “ETBS” and the demands of “more, better, faster”

Dealing with constant, even chaotic, change

You Must Become Even Better at ANTICIPATION (“Ready Alert”) and ADAPTATION (“Rapid Response”)—Which Requires CREATIVITY and INNOVATION

Creativity and Innovation: Sage Wisdom

…a culture that breeds an endless search for ideas that stand or fall on their merits, rather than the rank of their originator, a culture that brings every mind into the game.

(Jack Welch)

Bringing Every Mind Into the Game: An Exercise

“Young Chickens in Space” Project

Time Limit: 20 minutes

Bringing Every Mind Into the Game: Three Keys “Create a Sense of Urgency”

Set Ambitious Goals and Deadlines; Share More Information—”Educate not Dictate”; Focus on Mission, not Just Plans and Projects

“Give Direction without Managing Too Tightly” Provide “Freedom Within Fences”; Engage in “Parallel

Processing” “Collaborate to Innovate”

Always Involve the “End User”—and Increase the Number of “Collisions”


When the rate of external changeexceeds the rate of internal change,the end of your business is in sight.

(Jack Welch)

Stuck in a Rut: Identifying Blocks to Creativity

Block #1: Block #2: Block #3: Block #4: Killer Phrases Block #5: The “Silo Mentality”


If you have always done it that way,it is probably wrong.

(Charles Kettering)

Eureka!: Identifying “Blockbusting” Strategies

Inverted Thinking Brainstorming Skull Sessions Creative Swiping The SUN Principle

“Blockbusting” Strategy: Inverted Thinking

Inverted Thinking Write down all of your assumptions about your problem, your

customers, or your market Break each assumption, assume the opposite is true With the broken assumptions as the NEW assumptions, develop

new strategies or solutions

“Blockbusting” Strategy: Brainstorming

Brainstorming Bring together a small group of people (five to eight) with the

goal of diversity of members Identify the problem that is the focus of the brainstorming A group member voices an idea followed by each of the other

members, with the ideas listed on flip chart paper

“Blockbusting” Strategy: Brainstorming

Brainstorming Group members follow four principles in generating ideas:

Defer judgment--No “killer phrases” Quantity breeds quality The “wilder” the better! Hitchhike on other people’s ideas

The brainstorming session is over when no more ideas can be generated.

“Blockbusting” Strategy: Skull Sessions

Skull Sessions Meet in small groups (3-5 people) One person presents an idea (2 minutes) and receives

CONSTRUCTIVE feedback from the other members of the group (4 minutes total)

Constructive feedback should focus on improving the idea Each person presents an idea and receives constructive feedback

“Blockbusting” Strategies: “SUN”/Creative Swiping

The SUN Principle Suspend—No Killer Phrases, the Bell, and the Yellow Card Understand—Ask Questions for Clarification and Elaboration—

not Evaluation Nurture—Move from “Yes, but” to “Yes, and”

Practice Creative Swiping


The best way to get a good ideais to get lots of ideas.

(Linus Pauling)

Developing “Breakthrough” Ideas: An Exercise

Developing “Breakthrough” Ideas for Industry Challenges Break out into small groups Use the “blockbusting” strategies to generate “breakthrough”

ideas to meet industry challenges List your breakthrough ideas on flip chart paper Share your “best” idea with the larger group


Even if you’re on the right track,you’ll get run over if you just sit there.

(Will Rogers)

Unpacking the “Magic” of Creativity€¦ · Unpacking the “Magic” of Creativity Create or Fail: ... Dealing with constant, even chaotic, change You Must Become Even Better

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