Tag: Creativity

Diverse Teams

I have been reading “Rebel Ideas” by Matthew Syed. I agree with the main theme of the book – diverse teams are likely to be more successful as there is the benefit of different ideas, insights and perspectives.

I like this photo of stones on a beach.  All the parts are different shapes, sizes and colours but put together, we can see a white seam that runs through them to make a circle.

I think this can be a good way to think about teams. The participants can be very different, yet by working together they produce valuable, beneficial, creative output.

The Artist’s Way

Creative block?

Recently I read “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron (twice!) and enjoyed it (twice!).

Artist does not necessarily mean Painter, it represents anyone in pursuit of creativity, regardless of career.

Rather than being set out in chapters, the book is organised as a 12 week course.

The objective of the course is to help us rediscover our creativity. Each week focuses on a particular theme and offers practical suggestions to help us recover and discover the creative flair we might have practiced unselfconsciously as children.

In addition to the weekly exercises, 2 basic tools are recommended, “morning pages” and “the artist date”.

Writing three A4 pages everyday is a conversation with ourselves- perhaps covering thoughts we wouldn’t dare reveal to anyone else. It’s a chance to pour out hopes, dreams, fears and frustrations privately.

The Artist date, is a weekly time investment doing something by ourselves for ourselves; being in nature, listening to music or trying a new food. The date can be anything but should feel like play and not work. This is to replenish our creative resources.

If you have temporarily forgotten how to practice and enjoy your creativity, or feel an artistic block, this book is definitely worth reading!

Feature Image Credit: Seema Miah via Unsplash

New Year’s Resolution

Like many people, I haven’t had a good track record with keeping New Year’s Resolutions. Most years January’s well-judged intentions became February’s forgotten thoughts.

To make things simpler, a number of years ago, I decided on having a “word of the year” rather than a specific resolution. The word was to be a frame of mind for the year, rather than entail any specific target of weight loss or rooms decluttered.

The first word I chose was “acceptance” and I lived that year feeling much calmer than I had before. On occasions where I would previously had my back up or be quick to respond to provocation, I remembered “acceptance” and took more things in my stride.

The following year, my word was “resilience”. When I thought of it, I imagined a cloak of strength around me and it helped me through many challenges.

My word for 2019 was “compassion”. At every encounter, I tried to remember this. Maybe I thought a shop assistant was rude but once the “compassion” mindset kicked in, I considered that he might have been up half the night with a sick child.

2019 felt positive as I enjoyed having the standpoint of believing the best in everyone, rather than being frustrated about shortcomings. Also, I think that by believing the best, I actually experienced that. By showing compassion, I received it back.

My word for 2020 is “authentic”. I am letting my hair go grey. I changed my LinkedIn profile picture to be one where I am wearing my glasses. I have been toying with writing a blog for a few years but always talked myself out of it concerned by how others might judge it. However, this is my 5th instalment and I’m enjoying writing about themes that interest me.

I think “creativity” is going to be my word for 2021. The world is challenging us to be more creative in our approaches to problem solving and I want to rise to that challenge and think about new ways of doing things. Also, I would like to add to my creative hobbies. I have already made a start. The photo attached is my first effort at sewing! 

Happy 2021!

What’s Your Definition of a Challenge at Work?

Well imagine you have to adapt to working remotely. Actually, you probably don’t have to imagine that. It is challenging but not impossible, you are doing it already.

Imagine that you are working remotely but with a completely new team, people you have never met in person. That is a bit more challenging.

Now imagine you are working remotely with people you have never met before and you have all just joined a new organisation. No one has the inside track on how things are done or what is expected. This sounds very challenging.

But this is exactly what many first year college students have been doing since September.

As we near the end of the semester, college students are submitting their teamwork projects online and delivering group presentations via Zoom. These students are coping with social isolation and missing out many aspects of their college experience. They have risen to their work challenges, although it has not been easy.

These students are developing adaptability, resilience and creativity skills that will be assets for life.

Feature Image Credit: Christoph Deinet via Unsplash