What Every Manager Should Know About How to Think Creatively
You may have heard of Roger von Oech's book, A Whack on the Side of the Head: How to Unlock Your Mind for Innovation. It's as much fun to read as its title suggests. It covers the ten common obstacles to creative thinking. It's about ways in which you can unlock your mind for innovation, for change, for more interest, or even for a career change.
Mr. Von Oech writes about the time when his English teacher in high school put a small chalk dot on the blackboard and asked the class to tell him what it was. A few seconds passed, and then someone said, "It's a chalk dot on the board." The rest of the class seemed relieved that the obvious had been stated, and no one else had anything more to say.
"I'm surprised at you," replied the teacher, "Yesterday I did the same exercise with a group of kindergartners, and they thought of fifty different things the chalk mark could be:
* a cat's eye,
* a cigar butt,
* a star,
* a pebble,
* a squashed bug,
* a rotten egg,
* a head,
* and so on.
The lesson that I wish to share with you is the importance of looking for more than one right answer. When you look, you will be surprised to learn how many answers are available.
We have been trained in school to look only for the first right answer to every problem. The average person does this; the creative person looks for many.
Looking beyond the first solution to a problem can result in a whole new set of serendipitous solutions - solutions that can be a hundred times better than the first one.
Remember: When you maximize your potential, everyone wins. When you don't, we all lose.
Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW
PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in ezines, newsletters, and on web sites provided attribution is provided to the author, and it appears with the included copyright, resource box and live web site link. Email notice of intent to publish is appreciated but not required. Contact him at: executiveandgroup-consulting@yahoo.com when you use this article.
Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Management Consultant and Trainer, conducts lectures, seminars, webinars, and writes articles on his theme: "... helping you maximize your potential." He offers management, marketing, and parenting resources at hisMaximizing Y our Potential blog.
MORE RESOURCES:
Hull adds creative element to Dallas Stars' company line Dallas Morning News, TX - The job, to Hull, is one of creativity and ideas, and not so much contracts and the salary cap. That's the reason Stars owner Tom Hicks made it a two-man ... |
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 Boston Globe | With offensive creativity, the Buckeyes struck back, but also left ... The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com, OH - Craig Holman/Columbus DispatchFor a third straight year, Ohio State fans watched the final seconds with forlorn expressions on Monday night. ... Buckeye Comeback Goes Does Not Hold Up |
President-elect Barack Obama inspires an artistic flood of creativity Chicago Tribune, United States - By Colleen Mastony | Tribune reporter An Ohio man drew a portrait on an Etch A Sketch. An Iowa woman carved a bust out of chilled butter. ... |
Hugo Create Contest – Discover Your Creativity MediaSyndicate (press release) - Today, creative individuals are mixing their multi-disciplinary skills and talents to go beyond the traditional paths of art. ... |
FileMaker Developers Win $1000 for Your Creativity prMac (press release), TX - [prMac.com] Richmond, VA - FMWebschool today announces an exciting competition that will put your creative genius to the test. ... |
 The Frisky | Are Creative Types Just Good For Flings? The Frisky, Georgia - Are “creative types” good for anything other than flings? “I am always attracted to creative men,” one woman writes the Guardian. ... |
Canada Amnesty International Secretary General: Cultural Show ... The Epoch Times, NY - It obviously reflects considerable hard work and talent and creativity," said Neve who is the Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada. ... Filmmaker Gets Ideas, Inspiration ‘A true delight’ Says Public Official |
 BigNews.biz (press release) | Creativity and Flexibility in Custom Branded Items: BigNews.biz (press release), MA - This high level of flexibility and creativity is found across the board in the product offerings of Factory Direct Promos ... |
Learning from small town creativity and commerce Princeton Union Eagle, MN - In both cases, they’ve responded with creativity and cooperation to draw in millions of dollars, and survive, as other places declined. ... |
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