A Marketplace of Ideas

The word transformational is as over-hyped in the business world as superstar is in the sporting and entertainment worlds. Programs, initiatives and products described as transformational are often useful or insightful, but rarely do they fundamentally change the way we live our lives. The computer and Internet are transformational; a new supply chain strategy or tracking system may not be. So when I talk about the study of the science of creativity as being transformational, I do not use that term lightly.

As a copywriter and Creative Director, I practiced creativity on a daily basis for years. However, I didn’t understand it until I began studying at the International Center for Studies in Creativity at Buffalo State. Here, I learned what I had always done intuitively, but never deliberately or to my fullest potential. My study of creativity fundamentally changed the way I approach my work and personal relationships to enable creativity in myself and others.

Now, I defer judgment. I look for what I like about an idea. I see issues as problems to solve not as brick wall barriers. I stop choosing my first ideas and generate many ideas before deciding. I imagine what is possible, then figure out how to get there.

These are just some of the transformational elements of creativity I write about on this blog. They were new and valuable to me as a professional “creative,” so I assume they will be new and valuable for those who want creativity in their lives and innovation in their business.

The science of creativity transformed me, but will it transform you?

In my consulting work facilitating groups through strategic planning, I’ve seen teams get turned on by the creative process. I’ve felt the energy. I’ve documented their breakthrough plans. And I often hear that they continue to use some of the tools and rules I introduce to them. But as a consultant, I’m there and then gone. Will the transformation continue? Perhaps for some. Others go back to the way they operate by default.

What makes one person open to the creative process, while others remain relatively unaffected? And how might an organization transform if it commits to the creative process? Hopefully, as I continue to teach and learn, these answers will become clear.