Ed Catmull co-founder of Pixar Studios wrote the book on Creativity. It’s called Creativity, Inc.
In the book, Ed shares 8 tips for building more creativity into your teams.
1. Create a Safe Environment: Foster an environment where team members feel safe to express their ideas without fear of criticism or ridicule. This encourages open communication and the sharing of innovative thoughts.
2. Value Every Voice: Recognize that creativity can come from anyone, regardless of their position. Encourage and listen to ideas from all team members, regardless of their role or experience level.
3. Embrace Failure as a Part of the Process: Understand that failure is an essential component of innovation. Encourage experimentation and risk-taking, and view failures as opportunities for learning and growth.
4. Encourage Candid Feedback: Develop a culture where honest and constructive feedback is welcomed. This helps in refining ideas and making them stronger over time.
5. Value Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Encourage collaboration among individuals with diverse skills and perspectives. Cross-pollination of ideas from different fields can lead to breakthroughs.
6. Build Sustained Focus: Allow teams to have dedicated time to work on projects without being constantly interrupted. Deep focus can lead to more creative and meaningful results.
7. Leverage Iteration and Refinement: Understand that the first iteration of an idea is rarely the best. Encourage continuous refinement and improvement through multiple iterations.
8. Avoid Groupthink: Encourage diverse opinions and challenge the status quo. Avoid falling into the trap of groupthink, where everyone agrees without critically evaluating ideas.
Have you tried any of these?
