How to Be Super Creative to Navigate Complexity

16 Comments

1. I hope you enjoyed this Tip and interview and found them useful. Most importantly, I want you to put the Tip into action!

   Every day of the Summit, I’m awarding a prize for the Best Comment. So, leave a comment to share what action you’ve taken or are going to take, or your biggest “aha” and how the Tip or interview is making you think differently.

   And remember, you can get input from me here when you comment or ask a question. So go ahead and share what you are thinking and doing with this Tip!

2. I feel totally vindicated for being interested and perusing interests outside my ‘career’. I thought I was being unfocused and wasting valuable time with these interests but now I understand it’s actually been increasingly my creativity which ultimately benefits my career. I guess my intuition knew it all along because I didnt stop myself but it was great to hear it from a professional. Thanks for all the great information in this and previous summits!

   • Hi Susan, I’m glad that you’re feeling energized from this conversation! Pursuing those additional interests is probably your way of following your intuition and, as I like to put it, “following the bread crumbs”. Our careers should ideally be inside-out work. When we have to bifurcate ourselves, then stress and discontent result- which ultimately undermine productivity. And YES, you are absolutely right that these pursuits are increasing your creativity and benefiting your career- which will enhance how you produce and ultimately your impact. #KEEPGOING 😊 Thanks for tuning in! -Natalie

3. This makes so much sense! As stated, creativity can be something simple as trying something new for the first time and it isn’t reserved just for ‘artists.’ More people, especially in VUCA times, need a reminder to step a smidge outside their comfort zone. Find something they’re interested in and try it. Spur their mind!

   • HI Katelynn- YES- be clumsy student of something! It activates ALL of the 3 I’s: inquiry, improvisation and your intuition. We need to ensure that the neural synapses in multiple regions of our brain get to be activated- not just in the frontal lobe for cognition. Keep discovering ways to exercise your wonder and your rigor. Learning is a good way to do that. I continue to show up to hip hop dance classes and ballroom (waltz, tango, the hustle, salsa, etc). Thanks for tuning in to the conversation! -Natalie

4. The saying, you can’t change if you keep on doing the same things as you have always done. Here you gave us all some perfect questions to get ideas on what we could change What? What if? How?

   • Hi Aviaja,
     That’s right. In addition to all the great tips you’ll find in “The Creativity Leap” I am a huge fan of Warren Berger’s “A More Beautiful Question” for more direction on developing curiosity. I think about questions as inputs into a system. The system could be your mind, a work project, your family, etc. If you switch up the questions- the inputs- you’ll arrive at new and different outputs. Thanks for tuning in! -Natalie

5. This was so relevant and so true. Thank you, Natalie for your presentation and the wonderful examples. And…for laying out what my intuition was saying all along – step outside the box and be a life-long learner. Creativity is indeed the mother of invention! I love the “Mr. Bivs” example as a way to engage employees. I shall use this (if it’s not copyright!).
   (p.s. As a past-instructor and competitor of ballroom dance myslef – Keep up the Foxtort & Tango. Magic DOES happen once you get into the “flow state”!)

   • Hi Mary,
     Thank you for the encouragement to keep up with my ballroom dance!😊💃🏾 Yes, I am in it for the long haul. I post short videos now and then of my lessons on my Instagram (@natwnixon) – no shame to my game.😊

     I am glad you found the MR BIVS mnemonic helpful. Articles and books about The Ritz Carlton have mentioned it. I believe you will be fine as long as you reference it as the source, as I have!

     #KEEPDANCING & Thanks for tuning in,
     Natalie

6. I love the idea of being a clumsy student – especially outside your workplace as that’s often a more low-risk environment. I’ve found that hobbies and sports are a great outlet for playing with my creativity and also practicing leadership and professional development skills.

   My most recent “clumsy student” experience was learning to race the Madison at my local velodrome. It’s a team event where you and your partner take turns in the race, and exchanges are most commonly via hand sling. Because my highest concern was being a safe rider, I felt comfortable asking for and receiving feedback while learning this new race. Sometimes the feedback was given in a kind voice (“Try to have a stronger arm on the next exchange”) and other times the giver was more harsh (“You nearly crashed me!”). In the end, I realized that all feedback was being given to help me, and regardless of the tone, I got better at receiving and acting on the feedback. I then took this new skill to the workplace and started asking for ways I could improve on specific tasks – it’s been transformative for my career!

   • Hi Deanna,
     Right! I love your example. Isn’t it amazing that when we put ourselves in the vulnerable position of being that “clumsy student” it helps us with our humility, a sense of humor about ourselves and it broadens our capacity to receive feedback. Which, when you think about it, are all critical skills for executive leadership! I am so glad to hear that your foray into fun is transforming your career. Amazing!

     Thanks for tuning in.
     -Natalie

   • Hi Deanna,
     Right! I love your example. Isn’t it amazing that when we put ourselves in the vulnerable position of being that “clumsy student” it helps us with our humility, a sense of humor about ourselves and it broadens our capacity to receive feedback. Which, when you think about it, are all critical skills for executive leadership! I am so glad to hear that your foray into fun is transforming your career. Amazing!

     -Natalie

7. Wow, Natalie, what an inspiration this video was! I have always valued creativity and innovation in the workplace but struggled to clearly and concisely communicate it with myself and others. You have helped me with this and given many new insights and strategies which will help me further the mission of the organization I work for!
   Thank you for sharing your time and passion!

   • Hi Hannah,
     I appreciate your feedback! I am glad that thinking about creativity in terms of the WonderRigor™ system is clarifying and galvanizing. Mission accomplished. 😊 And I would love to hear later about the ways you try to apply the principles to your organization. Thanks for tuning in! -Natalie

8. Thank you, May and Natalie! I loved this concept of creativity that Natalie shared being the ability to toggle between wonder (eg attending conference in a different industry) and rigour (applying the learning from the conference) to solve problems and it’s where boundaries get blurred between wonder and rigour that is creativity or flow state. I also liked the point about embracing prototyping which is a creativity mindset and appreciated Natalie’s perspective on automation making more room for the human to show up.

   That should lend well to the creativity and curiosity needed to get us to the next place on our journey in terms of addressing the triple pandemic Natalie eloquently spoke about.

   • Hi Seema- Wonderful! I’m glad to hear that the WonderRigor™️ system is helpful. We truly underestimate the value in asking new & different questions to prompt impactful change in our organizations and for our clients. Thanks, Natalie

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