My latest blogs have been around the subject of creativity and how to improve your own, by looking deeper at Epstein's definition of the 4 creative competencies
Just to remind you, these are: challenging, broadening, capturing and surroundings. So it got me thinking, okay you can be creative - super creative in fact, but if you do not do anything with your creativity and the ideas you generate, then you will not innovate.
Recently I was speaking to an L&D manager who would like to improve the creativity within their organisation. Is it really creativity that needs a boost or is it innovation? Or both?
I have a belief that most people can be creative in some way or another, what is difficult is putting it into practice - the INNOVATION! By promoting creativity do you naturally promote innovation or do you need to do something else for that?
As a leader in your organisation what are the conditions that you foster to help the incubation and execution of creative ideas?
Are you.......
- Creative in the way you lead - do you lead by example?
- Encouraging - when someone comes to you with an idea, what is your response, regardless of how good it is?
- Judgmental - are you quick to dismiss the idea, because it may not fit in with culture, resources, plans etc?
- Supportive - in providing the right resources?
- Promoting a culture where you CAN learn by mistakes?
- Able to make it a safe place for your team to come up with off-the-wall ideas?
Depending on your answers to these questions, it may get you thinking about your style of leadership and whether you need lessons in creativity or innovation? Or both?
©Krystyna Gadd 2014
