I think there's different types of creativity which need different problems.
I'll call "big picture" creativity, like what you described with a new AIM programme, about strategic direction. I reckon this is best for 2-3 days at a time every quarter or so, with perhaps a larger block once a year. I find holidays good for this, and you can combine it with relaxation and fun too. If you're being corporate, they might be an "away day".
Then there's "details" creativity such as coming up with the next step on an open-ended project (e.g. finding the right lever in a policy job). Here I think it should be as-needed but on a shorter basis. Going for a half hour walk or having a 1-1 meeting with a trusted colleague might be sufficient, and can be worked into a normal working day.
- I use ideation tables to help generate ideas. The table has different multi-select columns which cut different elements into small pieces (this is the division method), and each row is the combination of several pieces into one question. The ideas are the answer to this question. I don't know if this will be clear, but for example if thinking about ideas for a conference, I will choose different elements from the table columns and a specific row it can look like this
Ideation topic: Experience
Beneficiary: Professionals, Newbies
Spaces: Panels
Teasers: Rememberable
❓ What experience of professionals sitting in the audience in panels will be very rememberable?
I’m heartened by this post. I’m commenting actively here because I’m hoping in this period of your life to influence you toward creativity-thus my comment on your past post of how a spreadsheet guided your life whereas for me it was my East Coast tour of every museum housing a painting of an artist I loved, and how that brought me to NYC for 13 years of arts community joy.
And here you discuss spending time in creative pursuits including museums. Noice.
I’m not speaking to you alone, I’m speaking to many EA connected leaders, since I consider it to be an extremely important movement drawing people into lives of service towards others…yet it’s science/spreadsheet culture has left it completely bereft of art. A very strange phenomenon.
Most human movements of any kind bubble up naturally with art because that’s what humans do…and supporting that means supporting creativity. I like to joke that military bases have more art than EA…and sadly, it’s actually true.
There’s an old saying in social activist circles: “Every Revolution Has Its Music” and it’s so very true. EA definitely doesn’t have its music.
A key hint in how to move toward more art and creativity is to invite more artists into your midst.
The charity I’m currently building in poor countries for mental health, which has 9 team members and an ongoing pilot in the Philippines will be full of art and creativity.
I believe EA would mature far more full and whole if the art deficit was overcome…it’s like a health meter. I’m glad you’re applying that kind of energy in your personal life.
I think there's different types of creativity which need different problems.
I'll call "big picture" creativity, like what you described with a new AIM programme, about strategic direction. I reckon this is best for 2-3 days at a time every quarter or so, with perhaps a larger block once a year. I find holidays good for this, and you can combine it with relaxation and fun too. If you're being corporate, they might be an "away day".
Then there's "details" creativity such as coming up with the next step on an open-ended project (e.g. finding the right lever in a policy job). Here I think it should be as-needed but on a shorter basis. Going for a half hour walk or having a 1-1 meeting with a trusted colleague might be sufficient, and can be worked into a normal working day.
Some of my thoughts:
- Creativity is a lot about being organized, knowledgeable, and implementing it rigorously within your work system.
- The use of creativity methods can help - divisions, analogy, questions, and more (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGFpV7rXww0&t=1759s)
- I use ideation tables to help generate ideas. The table has different multi-select columns which cut different elements into small pieces (this is the division method), and each row is the combination of several pieces into one question. The ideas are the answer to this question. I don't know if this will be clear, but for example if thinking about ideas for a conference, I will choose different elements from the table columns and a specific row it can look like this
Ideation topic: Experience
Beneficiary: Professionals, Newbies
Spaces: Panels
Teasers: Rememberable
❓ What experience of professionals sitting in the audience in panels will be very rememberable?
I’m heartened by this post. I’m commenting actively here because I’m hoping in this period of your life to influence you toward creativity-thus my comment on your past post of how a spreadsheet guided your life whereas for me it was my East Coast tour of every museum housing a painting of an artist I loved, and how that brought me to NYC for 13 years of arts community joy.
And here you discuss spending time in creative pursuits including museums. Noice.
I’m not speaking to you alone, I’m speaking to many EA connected leaders, since I consider it to be an extremely important movement drawing people into lives of service towards others…yet it’s science/spreadsheet culture has left it completely bereft of art. A very strange phenomenon.
Most human movements of any kind bubble up naturally with art because that’s what humans do…and supporting that means supporting creativity. I like to joke that military bases have more art than EA…and sadly, it’s actually true.
There’s an old saying in social activist circles: “Every Revolution Has Its Music” and it’s so very true. EA definitely doesn’t have its music.
A key hint in how to move toward more art and creativity is to invite more artists into your midst.
The charity I’m currently building in poor countries for mental health, which has 9 team members and an ongoing pilot in the Philippines will be full of art and creativity.
I believe EA would mature far more full and whole if the art deficit was overcome…it’s like a health meter. I’m glad you’re applying that kind of energy in your personal life.