Six myths about creativity

Dry and rational predecessors of the current business of the XIX and early XX century, most likely, would be very surprised to discover a meaning in the life of the modern entrepreneur acquired the notion of "creativity". The idea, which was previously regarded as the exclusive attribute of the free or "creative" professions, has now become a categorical imperative of life far removed from the romantic market "sharks": modern corporations.

Perhaps after reading all of the existing corporate "mission" or a value system does not find any, which would have made no mention of creativity. There is, perhaps, not a single CEO who would not have praised the creativity in their messages to the employees. But, despite the fact that creativity can be said to come down from heaven to earth, becoming a quality without which supposedly can not be the most elementary economic activity, very little is known about how the everyday innovation in the workplace. Where are the revolutionary ideas? How leaders can support the incentives to creativity of employees and to overcome barriers that stand in its way?

The first myth: the creativity generated by creative people

In the study, managers are often asked the question: where your organization is most needed creativity? Usually we called R & D, marketing and advertising. When managers were asked where they are less in need of creativity, all with a laugh said, in the accounting department. Of course, the phrase "creative accounting" is the irony, and has not too positive connotations. In practice, however, it became clear that any employee with normal intelligence is capable of creative work. In this case, creativity depends on several things: experience, including knowledge and technical skills, the talent, the ability to think in new ways, and the ability to overcome uncreative routine.

But most importantly, the extent to which people are passionate about their work and how intrinsic motivation factor involved. Although in recent years the company pay more attention to creativity and innovation than ever in the past, however, most of the staff are very far from full realization of their creative abilities. The reason largely in an environment that does not have to be creative (for example, when an employee assure that only relevant creativity in R & D, but not in his department).

The second myth: the money - the motivator of creativity

Experimental studies suggest that money does not determine the degree of creativity of employees. In the study, the question "How much is your current work is motivated by the premium?" The majority of respondents said that this issue does not seem important to them. They simply do not think about paying every day. And those few who spend much of their time thinking about the amount of compensation, generally produced not so much creative ideas.

Bonuses can even constrain creativity, in the event that people believe that their every move will affect the compensation. Then the staff are trying at all costs to avoid the risk that, of course, is not conducive to innovative thinking.

Of course, everyone should feel that they are paid fairly. However, much depends not on the compensation, from the environment in which creativity is supported, valued and recognized. People tend to seek more actively influence their area of ​​work and to achieve real progress. In this case, managers need to organize the work so that employees' skills are adequate complexity of the task, because it is then possible to achieve maximum creativity. If the task is far superior to the level of competence of employees, they dizorienirovany. When the task is too easy, the result is boredom. Task manager - to find a balance between these extremes.

Myth three: lack of time promotes creativity

Many people in the study were of the view that the greatest creative activity achieved under time pressure. However, 12,000 man-studied showed the opposite: people are the least creative when they were forced to constantly look at the clock. Moreover, in such situations, with employees going on a sort of hangover tseytnotnogo: their creativity was reduced not only in the day, when they were forced to work in a hurry, but the next day. Lack of time reduces creativity because people can not penetrate deeply into the essence of the problem. Thus, the main problem - not the deadline approaches, and distracting circumstances that prevent employees have revolutionized. People can certainly be creative and at gunpoint, but they must be able to concentrate on their work. In many organizations, employees simply do not understand the reasons for the urgency, except that someone, somewhere, wants to get the result today.

Myth Four: Fear is a revolutionary breakthrough

There is a widespread belief that the fear and depression in some way associated with creativity. There are even psychological theories, showing that the percentage of cases of depression is higher in particularly gifted writers and artists. However, in our study, similar patterns have not been confirmed.

All 12 thousand. Obtained records were analyzed to find out how the emotions of fear, anxiety, sadness, anger, joy and love are associated with creativity. It turned out that creativity positively associated with joy and love and negatively - with fear and anxiety. Records show that people feel great joy when they find a creative idea, but at the same time, they are much more likely to reach a peak of creativity, if you feel happy before. If people are passionate about their work, there is a greater chance that they will make a cognitive association, the result of which will be a creative idea the next day. Thus, we can say that day portends happiness day creativity.

Myth five: competition better than cooperation

There is a widespread belief, especially in the field of finance and high technology that internal competition enhances creativity. Our research shows that creativity suffers when competition reigns in the group of employees, rather than cooperation. The most creative ones collectives where employees can freely exchange ideas and discuss new solutions. However, when people compete for recognition, they stop sharing information. It is destructive, because no one in the organization does not have enough information to understand the situation as a whole.

Myth Six: downsizing - a good way to boost creativity

Again, no. Downsizing harms creativity, and this damage is more forward than many people think. reducing waiting even more harmful than the actual contraction. Fear of the unknown makes people almost completely distracted from work. The sharply reduced during the reduction of the level of communication and cooperation, as well as a sense of confidence and personal independence of employees. As a result, leaders after the reduction has to expend a lot of effort to stabilize the situation in the workplace, once again making it favorable for the formation of new ideas.