Creativity - Expert, Open & Odd.

I attended a Creativity webinar last week hosted by Dr. Michael Bloomfield where one of the models he discussed was a creativity pyramid of Expert – Open – Odd.

It really struck a chord with me.

To be creative you need to have a foundation of expertise. You need to know your stuff so you can identify what adds value and what doesn’t.

Beyond your Expertise you need to also be open to explore and find out different ways of doing things as well as being driven by curiosity.

However, being an expert and open will only take you so far on your creative journey, you need to add a further ingredient – Oddness.

Ridiculous I’m thinking, I’m not odd. Well perhaps I’m not odd as such in term is of my behaviour but maybe some of my thinking is. ?The old curiosity kicks in and I start Googling what odd actually means…peculiar and out of the ordinary. With that in mind, yes creativity does evoke a certain oddness, be it counter intuitive or unexpected. Creative solutions are new and by nature I guess are going to be on the odd spectrum, if there is such a thing.

Going back to the Expert – Open – Odd model. It’s good, simple and very clear once you manage to get over the odd hurdle!

I like it, it is something you can build on, use and help develop your creativity.

1. Expertise as the Foundation

You need to put in the effort and get mastery of your area. In all job roles things are changing and your current level of expertise is being constantly eroded by the winds of change. Imagine your expertise as the fertile soil in which creativity takes root. As an expert, you’ve ploughed your field well and the opportunities for creative solutions to grow are strong and well founded.

• As an individual Embrace Curiosity: Seek out learning opportunities. Attend workshops, read industry journals, and engage in skill-building exercises.
• As a team Feedback Loop: Regularly assess your expertise. What can you refine? What new knowledge does the team need to acquire?

• As a manager provide Learning Resources: Curate training programs, mentorship, and access to relevant content.
• As a leader Celebrate Learning: Recognise and reward expertise growth. Encourage team members to share their learning journeys.

?

2. Openness: The Bridge to New thinking

Openness is the bridge that connects expertise to innovation. It’s the willingness to explore uncharted territories, embrace diverse perspectives, and seek out new opportunities. Open-minded individuals attend art exhibitions, read obscure literature, and engage in cross-disciplinary conversations. When you’re open, your thinking expands. Openness fuels creativity—it’s the wind beneath its wings.

Remember everyone thinks they are open minded – this is not the case. My truth and The truth:

• As an individual gather new nectar and Ideas: Attend conferences, collaborate with colleagues from different Departments, and explore unrelated hobbies.
• As a team be an active listening unit: Be genuinely curious about others’ viewpoints. Ask questions and learn from diverse voices outside the Team.

• As a Manager build diverse Teams: Build cross-functional teams. Diversity sparks creativity.
• As a Leader prioritise Psychological Safety: Create an environment where sharing new or unconventional ideas is encouraged, supported, and valued.

?

3. Oddness: The Maverick within.

No prizes for guessing this is my favourite bit, Oddness isn’t about being eccentric for the sake of it. It’s about daring to propose unconventional solutions. When you’re confident in your expertise and open to the quirky, you become a maverick thinker. You’re the person who suggests using bubble wrap as soundproofing material or advocates for “reverse brainstorming.” Oddness isn’t reckless; it’s audacious value creation. It’s saying, “What about this?” And sometimes, those wild ideas are the win themes that competitors cannot follow. Oddness is the spice that flavours creativity.

• As an individual, Embrace your uniqueness: A little Oddness can go a long way. You will never stand out from the crowd if you stay in the crowd. Be know for that special aspect you can bring to the party. Be easy to work with but also special in your own way.

• As teams be a safe space for Oddness: Encourage risk-taking, be kind, never judgemental. Show that you are happy to go anywhere as a team. Oddness is hidden when psychological safety is weak.
• As a manager evaluate: There is odd good and odd bad, know the difference. Be the protector of your team and make sure the odd (to others) is communicated in the language of the business. Does it add value?
• As a leader, Lead by Example: Share your quirky ideas. Be the oddball who inspires others and make it acceptable to think wide, open and quirky.

?

Creativity isn’t a luxury; it’s a strategic imperative. It is only Creative solutions that disrupt markets, enhance user experiences, and propel organizations forward.

So, whatever you do from designing user interfaces, crafting LinkedIn posts and newsletters, or optimizing project logistics plans, remember this Creativity triad.

Your expertise fuels your openness, which in turn fuels your oddness. Together, they make fertile ground for innovation.

Value isn’t just in the bottom line; it’s in the delight of unexpected solutions for you and your customers. You cannot exceed your customers expectation with ‘normal’.

??CTA - Back to the soil analogy we started with -

• Nurture the Soil: Provide resources, mentorship, and a growth-oriented culture.
• Prune and Weed: Remove barriers, toxic behaviours, and outdated practices.
• Celebrate Blooms: Recognise and amplify creativity, oddness, and expertise. So, it can truly bloom and blossom.