Creativity Management - Breaking Through The Mental Barrier

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Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.

There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas.

There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly, distinct processes that enhance idea selection, development and commercialisation. Whilst there is no sure fire route to commercial success, these processes improve the probability that good ideas will be generated and selected and that investment in developing and commercialising those ideas will not be wasted.

Breaking through the mental barrier

There are numerous blocks that prevent creative output. Taken together, they represent a severe barrier to task completion, whether that task be the innovation of a new technical product or writing a screenplay. Some of the solutions to overcoming that mental barrier include:

a) An environment of psychological safety and freedom. Where expression is encouraged and not criticised.

b) Direct links to decision makers. Where feedback and adjustments are immediate and rewards are tangible.

c) Task Completion. Where all the competencies of a task are learned.

d) Frequent task engagement. Where the task is engaged in many times in order to build up a solid range of competencies, climb the experience curve and refine methodology and knowledge.

e) Incremental goals. Which the larger task is broken into smaller pieces and engaged in on a regular basis. Produces more output than a "do your best" approach and sets the mind working on problems at various cognitive levels. Increases the frequency and duration of insight and inspiration.

These and other topics are covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased (along with a Creativity and Innovation DIY Audit, Good Idea Generator Software and Power Point Presentation) from http://www.managing-creativity.com/

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Kal Bishop, MBA

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Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com/