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• Problem Andrew found was that people in certain industries would come into creativity seminars with the impression that they did not require creativity
• There are more psychopaths in corporate positions than there are in British prisons
• Micromanaging and control in workplaces puts a damper on creativity

The cookie Story

• Andrew was trying to force a creative opening for a speech he was giving
• He notices that every time his son took a bite from a cookie, he would say it looks like different things
• Andrew realised that whereas a kid is naturally creative, he was trying to force it as an adult

Creativity vs correctness 

• Went into a school to survey creativity
• When asked, kindergarten children keenly all put their hands up
• By year 12, just one child put their hand up
• The key difference was that as we age, we are rewarded for being correct and not creative

Nature of creative workshops

• Andrew says that creativity workshops do not require artistic ability
• This makes people more open to participating
• the specific type of creativity Andrew works on is the making of connections between things to help businesses
• eg: premium grease company needed customers to change grease more often. With Andrews help they made a connection to a toothbrush that changes colour when it is ready to be replaced and adapted the idea to their product

The creative class

• the creative class is a group of people whose way of thinking can greatly benefit a company
• this class is naturally attracted certain cities and countries
• to attract creatives a business needs existing talent, technology, a high level of tolerance to diversity

What does it cost to revive creativity?

• Andrew found that workshops and seminars were often boring during the day and drinking/partying at night
• He also asks businesses to consider that all the attendees have an hourly rate and will cost employers productivity
• The more important question he says is, what will it cost to not be creative?

The creativity killer

• Andrew gave talks where a boss assumed they did not require the training his employees were receiving
• When he returned, the first group presented enthusiastically, but the boss was far from open to the team's ideas
• Every group successively presented with less enthusiasm and felt less confident in their ideas

Critical vs creative

• As important as creativity is, critical thinking is also required to test creative ideas and actually make sure it works

7 creativity killers

• Control
• Fear
• Pressure
• Narrow Mindedness
• Apathy
• Insulation
• Pessimism

Top tip from Andrew

• Give up on forcing innovation until culture and mindset have changed to cater for creativity

Links and recommendations

• "Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work" by Robert D. Hare 
• 'Who killed Creativity?' Game board - https://www.whokilledcreativity.com/game-board/intro-game/
• iPad porta potty - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XHEJoPiFX8

Sponsors

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