I recently had a discussion with a close friend of mine in regards to passion and career. She has chosen a new path in life in relation to her career, and along the way she frequently receives negative criticism as to why she choose it. If that isn’t enough already, she receives further criticism on how there are better options out there that are higher in social status.
Unfortunately this criticism occurs often, far more than it should. I recall receiving criticism when I choose to attend a Design School over a traditional University. It was inferred that I would fail, or that it would be one of the greatest mistakes of my life. However, not once did those assumptions stop me for pursuing my passion.As I step back, I see myself farther than my peers in terms of accomplishments and success.
What does this have to do with Creativity?
I define creativity as “the formation of ideas that ‘WOW’ ”
It’s simple if you think about it. Passion is a desire and enthusiasm for something. When you allow yourself to explore that desire, you no longer worry about understanding its complexities. Your focus is on accomplishing that goal that craves within you thereby naturally channeling creativity into your work.
Example:
If you hand an artist a pad and pen, he/she is likely to draw something interesting and also likely to continue drawing for a longer period of time. Give a mathematician a pad and pen, the outcome may not be equivalent to the artist. He/she is not as likely to have the same motivation as the artist to draw. Rather he/she may begin to solve a mathematical problem. Both the artist and mathematician have a pad and pen, but they utilize the medium to their own desires and interest.
If you do not pursuit what it is you desire, or rather inhibit someone to pursuit his/her desire, how can one expect innovation? Creativity starts with a passion for what it is you are doing. Then it is a matter of innovating to be different, to stand out, and most of all be known and respected for what you do. Creativity is passion explored.
10 greatest mistakes people make while in a brainstorming session.
Leading a Brainstorming session as a group/team is a great way to bounce ideas. But how many people do you need to involve, and when is it to many people? For starters, brainstorming sessions I have been apart of have been as few as one other person to as many as forty people. I have witnessed and been intertwined in groups as upwards to forty or so people, but quickly found that only a select two or three individuals will actively participate, another couple individuals will interject every now and then, and the rest sit there and node, smile, and usually yawn.
A group of say up to six individuals works best. Everyone participates because the environment forces them not to stay quiet. It is easy to make connections with everyone in the room. Bouncing ideas is apart of creating synergy, and that synergy exists in smaller environments. My most successful sessions have been with just another person. Advertising agencies are notorious for this approach. A team of two will concept for a client. But at the same time there will be three to four other teams attempting the same project. Only one idea will win, but it is a way to find more ways to solve a problem.
You know that voice in the back of your head, “How will I ever solve this.” Eventually seconds go by turning into minutes, and all you have really done is questioned your own ability to think creative.
Try and stop that voice before it becomes subconscious where you think your trying to solve the problem, when really you’re repeating the same phrase over and over again. Usually when people are in this state, they always give feedback in the group that goes something like this. “I don’t know.” “I just can’t think of anything today.”
So make it a note as of today, if that voice comes in your head, stop early so you can really focus on the problem rather than creating your own mental problem.
Some people are wonderful at coming up with ideas on fly, and for all of you who have that innate ability, congratulations. However, there are far more individuals who simply do not have the necessary practice to solve problems on the spot let alone do it creatively. That must be kept in mind before calling a brainstorming session. Allow your team to prepare with notes, research, and maybe a few ideas here and there to get the ball rolling prior to the session. One very successful session I was involved in required that we submit our ideas prior to the session. It helps place a focus, and really breaks through the problem of number 9.
Creativity requires a great deal of imagination and many thoughts are processed during that time. The mind can only stay stimulated for a certain period of time. Therefore if your sessions are stretched out to anything more then thirty minutes, it may not be as effective as it could be if split up during different parts of the day or throughout the week.
The mind needs to get away from things in order to come up with the best solution. Some people find their ideas in their sleep. Some of my best ideas have come during abnormal activity, working out, driving, surfing the web, and looking at random images. Allow your team to get away from the problem, it can actually be the best thing you can do.
Brainstorming sessions should have rules but keep them simple. I have been in sessions where the moderator insist that no one walk around, raise your hand to provide input, offer criticism to the previous idea before adding or stating a new idea and frankly the list goes on. Here are a few rules that I use when moderating.
Get up and walk around the room
Do whatever it takes to keep your mind stimulated and stay comfortable
Leave your phone(s) at your desk unless it is an emergency
Bring things to eat and drink
Make the session conversational and open
Criticize ideas after we are done
I’m sorry to say this, but not everyone can lead a successful brainstorming session. Many times brainstorming sessions are treated like meetings with a formal agenda and documentation that must be read and presented etc. I find that the moment there is an “authority figure” in the session, individuals are afraid to present their ideas. Productivity increases when individuals are less afraid to perform or say the wrong thing. Therefore, if you know you are an authority that frightens your team from time to time, maybe you should stick the sessions out, and leave the job to a capable facilitator. Someone who can keep the team on track, take wonderful concise notes, and most of all, can engage the group in an active conversation.
If you have uncomfortable chairs that people just cant sit still after five minutes, consider changing them out. If you have a small room that cramps everyone together, consider expanding (if you have the budget of course), or consider moving the meeting outdoors at a local park. If you have a table that won’t accommodate everyone’s things and begins to look like clutter with everyone’s pad and computers, consider a larger table. If your walls look sterile, no pictures, white, and boring, consider spicing things up. Make the environment as comfortable as possible, it can greatly help increase employee efficiency and well worth the dollars spent for the million dollar ideas coming out of them.
Brainstorming sessions are meant to be fun and exciting. It is your chance to think wild and imaginative thoughts, regardless of the problem (and if for some reason you are reading this and thinking “are you kidding me” you already have the wrong mindset). Learn to relax and let ideas flow, and to listen to others. It can help stimulate your own thoughts and place things in perspective.
Keep this in mind, just because you maybe the leader of the team, it doesn’t mean you have to be the one with the ideas. You are in your position because you understand what works and what doesn’t, because you have good judgment calls, and most of all because of your leadership qualities. That is why it is ok to let someone else have the fame, after all that is the point of the session. So take number three and blend number two together and you will find your team is also more relaxed.
If it is anything that can ruin a brainstorming session, that would be the negative criticism presented while ideas are flowing. Negativity causes people to one, feel like they let the boss down by presenting a weak idea, when in fact could have been salvaged if the remark was more positive. Two, it un-relaxes not just the person being criticized but also everyone in the room. People want to share their ideas, but not if they are going to get shot down. If that is your attitude, do the team a favor and don’t attend the session. Plus on top of all that it makes the environment less conducive. People need nurturing and assurance, regardless of the person. Therefore work as a team and help one another out.
Our culture is extremely visual. Everything from TV, advertising, movies, magazines, architecture, interior design, video games, im sure you get the point…
Visual Literacy is defined “as the ability to understand communications composed of visual images as well as being able to use visual imagery to communicate to others.”
In order to become visually literate, one must practice expressing their thoughts and ideas in visual forms such as drawings (encoding) and translating/understanding the meaning of visual imagery (decoding).
Visual literacy isn’t always easy. In fact some artists make their visual work difficult to understand, and only those truly observant will understand. Show me a photograph, and there is an excellent chance I will be able to interpret the photographers intentions only because of my years of practice and dedication.
·Improves Capacity to Develop Powerful Concepts and Solutions
·Enhances Ability to Think Simplicity
Sure visuals can be complicated, but those that have the most powerful concept are the simplest in form. If you are out to problem solve and need to understand the concept of simplicity, visual literacy is a great way of getting there.
Take a good look at the above image. I shot that image while I was in Wisconsin. I used special lens filters on my camera just to get my intention across visually. Any ideas on what I was trying to portray? Leave a comment and lets see what everyone comes up with. It’s a good starting point.
Those who are creative tend to have a high capacity of visual literacy. Unfortunately many major institutions other than design schools have tested visual literacy, however, I am big believer in Visual Literacy. It helps Problem Solve, and problems are a large part of everyday life. So why not emphasize something so important to everyday life?
