The Creativity Misconception: Overcoming the 'Not Creative' Lie

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Hey there, innovation champions!

Today I want to talk about “The Creativity Misconception” - it’s a phenomenon I’ve observed in tech companies and teams everywhere that's holding back innovation. It’s a big fat lie that's probably lurking in your organization right now.

What's that lie? It's the belief that some people just aren't creative.

Now, I can almost hear you thinking, "But Melissa, my team is full of analytical minds. They're great with data and coding, but creativity? That's not really their thing."

Well, buckle up, because I'm about to challenge everything you think you know about creativity in tech.

Let's imagine a scenario that plays out in tech companies all too often.?

Picture a team at a major tech firm - we'll call them Tech Innovators Inc. This team is responsible for developing cutting-edge AI algorithms.?

They're brilliant - we're talking genius-level IQs, advanced degrees from top universities, the works.

Now, imagine asking this team to participate in a creative exercise.?

You'd likely see reactions ranging from discomfort to outright resistance. You might hear something like, "We're not the creative types. That's for the design team."

This scenario, while hypothetical, reflects a reality I've encountered countless times in my work with tech companies. It perfectly illustrates the "Creativity Misconception" in action.

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On one hand, we have companies desperate for innovation, pushing their teams to think outside the box. On the other hand, we have team members who've bought into the lie that they're not creative.

It's a paradox because the very people we need to innovate often don't believe they have the capacity to do so.

But here's the truth bomb: Everyone is creative. Yes, even your most analytical, data-driven team members. In fact, they might just be your secret creative weapons.

Let's break this down using my Create the Impossible? framework:

1. Play Hard: Embracing the Inner Child

Remember when you were a kid? You didn't worry about being "creative enough." You just played, explored, and imagined.?

That capacity for play and imagination didn't disappear - it just got buried under years of "serious" education and work.

Here's how to bring play back into your analytical team's world:

- Introduce "play breaks" during the workday. This could be as simple as a 15-minute LEGO? session or a quick improv game.

- Encourage "wild idea" sessions where no idea is too crazy. You might be surprised at the innovative solutions that come from your "non-creative" team members when they're given permission to be silly.

- Use analogies and metaphors to explain complex problems. This taps into the imaginative side of analytical minds.

2. Make Crap: Embracing Imperfection

One of the biggest barriers to creativity in analytical minds is the fear of imperfection. They're used to dealing with precise data and flawless code. The idea of creating something "crappy" can be terrifying.

But here's the secret: making crap is essential to the creative process. It's how we stumble upon brilliant ideas.

Here's how to encourage your team to embrace imperfection:

- Implement "ugly prototype" challenges. The goal is to create the worst possible version of a product or solution. It takes the pressure off and often leads to unexpected insights.

- Celebrate "fabulous failures." Share stories of famous tech innovations that came from mistakes or "bad" ideas.

- Encourage quantity over quality in brainstorming sessions. The goal is to generate as many ideas as possible, not to come up with the perfect solution right away.

3. Learn Fast: Reframing Creativity as a Skill

Many analytical thinkers see creativity as a mysterious, innate talent.?

But creativity is a skill that can be learned and improved, just like coding or data analysis.

Here's how to foster a learning mindset around creativity:

- Provide resources on creative thinking techniques. Books, online courses, or workshops can help demystify the creative process.

- Implement cross-functional projects that pair analytical team members with more traditionally "creative" roles.

- Encourage daily creative exercises, like keeping an idea journal or sketching out problems.

Now, let's go back to Tech Innovators Inc. Remember that resistant team??

When teams implement these strategies, amazing things can happen. Engineers who once labeled themselves as "not creative" start coming up with breakthrough ideas. Teams that were stuck in rigid thinking patterns begin to approach problems with newfound flexibility and innovation.

I've seen teams go from resistant to enthusiastic about creative exercises, leading to improved collaboration, more innovative solutions, and even new patents and product features.

The key takeaway from these transformations is always the same: the creativity was there all along. It just needed the right environment and permission to flourish.

And that's the heart of the Creativity Misconception. The creativity is there - it's always been there. We just need to create an environment where it can flourish, especially among our most analytical team members.

So, here's your challenge for this week: Look at your most analytical team members. The ones you might have written off as "not creative." How can you invite their creativity out to play?

Maybe it's through a wild idea session, an ugly prototype challenge, or simply by telling them, "I believe you're creative, and I want to see that creativity in action."

Remember, overcoming the "not creative" lie isn't just about making people feel good. It's about unlocking the full innovative potential of your entire team. It's about Creating the Impossible?.

Are you ready to shatter the Creativity Misconception in your organization? Let's unleash the hidden creativity in your analytical minds and watch the innovation soar!

Want to dive deeper into overcoming the "not creative" lie in your team? Book an Innovation Strategy Session with me, and let's explore how we can tap into your team's full creative potential.

Stay curious, stay playful, and keep believing in the creativity of every single team member!

A version of this article originally appeared on the blog at melissadinwiddie.com.

About Melissa Dinwiddie, M.Soc.Sci.

Innovation Strategist | Keynote Speaker | Author

I help leaders and organizations Create the Impossible? through my unique 3-step process. Drawing on my multifaceted creative background—from Juilliard-trained dancer to professional artist to jazz singer—I bring a fresh perspective to the tech and corporate world, empowering even the most analytical minds to unlock their creative potential and drive breakthrough innovation.

My innovative approaches, which form the basis of my Create the Impossible? framework and Creative Sandbox Way? principles, have contributed to transforming teams at Google, Facebook, Uber, Salesforce, Stanford, and more. Through interactive, playful keynotes and workshops, I help build cultures of thriving innovation using the same principles that help artists create works of enduring impact.

Ready to supercharge creativity and ignite innovation in your organization? Here's how we can connect:

1. Assess Your Innovation Culture: Take my FREE 10-minute Innovation Culture Assessment.
2. Explore The Creative Sandbox Way?: Download the first 50 pages of my acclaimed book.
3. Create Your Impossible: Book a complimentary Innovation Strategy Session to discover what's possible for your team.

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