The Nature of Creativity — Third Thought

Intelligences and Creativity

23rd of February ~

Today I am exploring the work of Howard Gardner. His theory of Multiple Intelligences has been widely disseminated in the field of education but hasn’t been used as much in the business world.

Academicians argue over whether or not the intelligences are, truly, intelligences. I suggest we not get hung up on semantics and simply play with the theory a little.

Intelligence and Creativity

Do raw smarts increase creativity?

In fact, the smarter you are the more creative you tend to be–to a point. There’s research to suggest that IQ and creativity correlate to an IQ score of 120. But I’ve never felt that a Stanford-Binet IQ test represented enough breadth. That why I love the theory of Multiple Intelligences.

Howard Gardner posits at least eight kinds of intelligence:

Linguistic: words, language, verbal and written
Logical‐mathematical: numbers, logic, abstract reasoning
Musical: audial, music, rhythm
Spatial: visual, image manipulation
Bodily‐kinesthetic: body awareness and movement
Interpersonal: interaction with others
Intrapersonal: reflection and introspection
Naturalist: awareness and harmony with the natural world

You can take a simple online (and unofficial) quiz here to determine your Top Intelligences. Mine are:

Interpersonal
Verbal/Linguistic
Bodily/Kinesthetic

Photo by Pink Sherbet Photography

Surprise, surprise, these are the areas where I apply my greatest imagination and creativity. My relationships with others get my very best effort and I enjoy expressing myself within that area. Dancing brings me more joy than I can describe.

What about you? Do your Top Intelligences correspond with the most creative areas of your life?

Introverts More Creative than Extraverts?

17th of January ~

We are all creative. We have different preferences for how we’d like to create.

So, it’s no surprise how much heat is being generated over an opinion piece by Susan Cain in the NY Times called The Rise of the New Groupthink.

“Groupthink“. Would we call that a positive label? The term was coined in 1972 by Irving Janis in his analysis of US military fiascoes–clearly, NOT a good thing. For years it’s been employed to describe the worst of group dynamics. Ms. Cain has recently written a book called Quiet: the Power of Introverts.

She makes some valuable points. Most brainstorming is heinous. Nobody likes pointless meetings with people posturing for the benefit of superiors. I recognize and crave the power of solitude in my creative process. But does she mean that I, a moderate Extravert, can’t ‘do quiet’? Or worse, that I’ll never be as creative?

Unfortunately, she plays it fast and loose with her research. For an elegant response to her inaccuracies I refer you to the excellent Keith Sawyer. He corrects her mistakes and provides a reasonable point-of-view.

I wish Ms. Cain had subtitled her book the Power of Introversion instead of dividing us into right and wrong sub-groups.

The creative process is just too complex to assign superior powers to a specific group. All of us, regardless of style, can make a contribution and we need to take responsibility for ensuring we occasionally have an environment that fosters our preferred process.

Knowing When to Quit

10th of October ~

One of the most difficult decisions we face as innovators is when to carry on and when to throw in the towel. As a confirmed optimist I can image a rosy outcome for a very long time. Maybe too long.

photo by Stu French

The Sunk Cost Effect

The book, Into Thin Air, tells the story of a disaster on Mount Everest in which 8 climbers were killed. The causes of the accident are in controversy but some of the factors suggest that the climbers were too close to quit. They’d invested $80,000. They’d almost made it the year before but had been disappointed. They were within a short 100 yards of their goal.

We experience the Sunk Cost Effect when we are reluctant to pull out because we’ve invested time and resources into a project or idea. We continue in blind hope. “I’ve already spent so much!”.

Additionally, there is an element of shame associated with quitting. Nobody wants to be a quitter. I remember getting a fresh dose of hope when a friend said to me, “You don’t want to quit just before the miracle happens.” Hope sprang forth anew. I didn’t quit when it was time and wasted another two months on a fruitless effort.

So When Should You Quit?

I suggest there are a few areas to help you with these difficult decisions.

Where is your energy? Do you still feel energized by the work/project/journey?
Are you getting fresh reasons to hope or are you starting to look delusional?
What’s your track record? If you err toward dilettance try staying with it a little longer.
Are you looking backward for forward? Sunk costs are already sunk. Perhaps you’ve heard the adage, “Don’t throw good money after bad.”

This is never an easy decision. But one of the hallmarks of innovation is the recognition that not every idea is a precious pearl. Know when to quit and put your energy where it can pay off.

Pull a Caputo

20th of June ~

The year was 1988 and I was in a long-running production of Angry Housewives. Playing my boyfriend was the ebullient Jimmy Caputo. I’ve never had more fun in a production and Jim was a part of that sweet time. Last month Jimmy died of a heart attack and last week I attended the celebration of his life alongside the better part of the Portland theater community. What a beautiful tribute it was.

(photo credit: Terry Voss)

Vana O’Brien described him as a man without embrarassment. Jim’s sons were eloquent and heart-breakingly authentic as they talked about their Dad. Twig Webster spoke about Jim’s gifts: his ability to immediately lighten a room with laughter and his generosity, his desire to entertain and please. Twig encouraged each of us to daily “Pull a Caputo”. That is, share the best of yourself at least once a day.

Of course, not all of us have the gifts of a talented actor . Very few of us can claim the stage and conspire to laughter. But ALL of us, have a unique and personal way to share our creative self with the world.

My daughter works at a drive-through Starbucks. She is practical, down-to-earth and not overly sentimental (yes, her mother’s opposite number) and she enjoys her work. “Where else can I make a positive difference in someone’s day at 5:30 am?“, she asks. She describes episodes of one person letting another car in the line and then 5 to 6 cars each ‘paying it forward’, buying coffee for the car behind them. She is impressed by these small acts of kindness and so am I.

But “Pulling a Caputo” need not be just about kindness. You may be a misanthrope with great creative gifts. Many of the greats and somewhat-greats were massively annoyed by other human beings. The point is to make a difference, in any way, by expressing exactly who you are. At the very least, indulging your creativity makes you a happier person which is also good for the world.

You may not know yet what your legacy will be. If you asked some of your close friends or colleagues I bet they have a clue. I remember leaving a job some ten years ago and at my farewell fete people repeatedly thanked me for my mentorship. At the time it surprised me but now it makes loads of sense. At my heart I am a cheerleader for others.

It’s too bad that Jimmy wasn’t there at his Celebration. I like to think he was watching from somewhere. So, here’s a bit of enouragement: Have a Celebration of your life before you’re gone. I had one on my 50th birthday and it was a grand night.

And. later today, Pull a Caputo.

Be a Fool

1st of April ~

Happy April Fool’s Day Everyone!

I believe this day to be one of the signature holidays of creative people. Why? First of all, you get carte blanche to be silly and that’s always healthy for the creative process. But the Fool archetype goes deeper than practical jokes. It is ancient and crosses cultures.

Consider King Lear’s wise fool:

Have more than thou showest,

Speak less than thou knowest…

..and the symbolism of the Tarot Fool card:

The optimistic traveler sets off on his journey with full confidence that all will be well. As creative problem solvers we can learn several lessons from this naive young person.

Begin the Journey

The creative process rarely follows a straight or predictable line. Take the first step even when you don’t know the destination. Step off the ‘cliff’ with a heart filled with curiosity and a sense of adventure. Be ready to take risks.

Be Willing to Appear Foolish

Cynics may consider you and/or your ideas naive. So what? Departing from the evaluative norm of the meeting room (“I can see at least three problems with your idea“) and take a more generative, constructive approach. This will, ultimately, set you apart. There is a time and place for evaluation but no one ever built anything without an imagination.

Use Your Knapsack

Each of us has a set of unique tools in our little rucksack. You have a unique point of view and a set of experiences that no one else has. Apply your diversity of thought. Use metaphors that can illuminate a challenge. Tell stories of similar situations. Oh, and listen.

Now, off you go, Dear Reader. Be a Fool

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