Facilitating Innovation And Creativity Part 1

Activity does not always translate into productivity.

Being right does not always mean being appropriate. Many unhelpful pursuits are formed on correct but useless assumptions that do not serve to solve the problem at hand.

One of the most striking differences between adaptable and change-averse people is the ability to see how today’s actions impact tomorrow’s plans. The less adaptable people will continue on a road when it leads to a broken bridge over a gorge. They will not turn off that road even when they can see the destination. For them, the process becomes the destination at the expense of the goal. If one can see the destination, one could seek alternatives to the broken bridge to get to the destination.

Using Vision to light the way in dark times

The ability to frequently zoom out to see further (the goal or destination) and zoom in again to see the present circumstances is priceless. This ability is the source of most misunderstandings and frustrations between these two groups.

It is best not to put creative minds under the charge of rigid thinkers’ because they will be severely constrained to the point where they can no longer function. Assign your people tasks, give them room to plan, and gather the knowledge and skills required to complete their tasks. Consider the other person’s perception, even if it does not make sense to you. You can not ask one who sees further to walk at the pace of one who can only see one foot ahead. Let them run to get where they are going if they can do it without stumbling.

How do you differentiate between a Wayard subordinate and a visionary?

You can only know if you, too, can see further so you understand the route the visionary seeks to take. Ask when unsure so you can understand the rationale of their choices. Many people without vision believe the more intelligent people like to do things the hard way. That closes all possibilities of dialogue and problem-solving. Assumptions have been made that lead to the conclusion that you are better, and others have chosen the less effective route. It takes wisdom to realise that an intelligent or creative person may seem to make a wrong choice only on the surface. Their ability to weigh situations should alert you that they may have done so to avert a worse outcome.

For example, a parent may allow themself to get shot in the leg to save their child from getting hit in the head. One injury is survivable, and the other may not be. The poor choice, on the surface, is the best option in the given circumstances. Yet one who did not consider the worse outcome due to lack of awareness or expertise would think themselves wiser to avoid the shot to the leg. No solution to solve today’s problems should produce a worse problem tomorrow.