The Power of Creative Diversity.
Written by Ian Adams
After reuniting with my brothers and sisters after 18 years, I’ve been reflecting a lot on the power of tapping into our younger selves, and what that can yield for a wealth of fresh ideas, and an energized approach to problem solving.
Watching all of the children play together, and doing so in our early stomping grounds just like we did as kids, has given me a new appreciation for the fact that creativity can come from anywhere.
I’ve been in awe at my children, nieces, nephews and their spontaneous ideas and imaginations. In awe not only in the yearning for inspiration that we all seek, but purely in the way that they hit the ground running with their common need for their own unique creativity, and how they express that within a group of ten.
I also didn't imagine they would all get along so well, having come from different backgrounds - from all over the world, languages and experiences.
And even as most of them hadn’t met before it was through their differences that brought them together. Watching them unite together through their music they have been creating, stories they tell, and games they create has been an experience of creativity in its purest form through a desire than none other than to have fun.
That’s it. That’s the brief. To have fun.
Of course this isn’t a new idea, and we talk about it at lengths in the creative ad agency world; however, potentially reframing the “harnessing your inner child” technique by posing somewhat naive questions may be another way to transport us in the shoes of our 10 year old selves.
For example, what is creativity? Why does it take 30 minutes to come up with an idea, and other times it takes a week? Is it best when we leave an open door approach and truly practice creative collaboration? Can a great idea really come from anywhere? Everyone has the potential to be creative but some people are more in tune with it than others. Why?
Maybe creative people are good observers as they utilise all of their senses. Gathering details, putting stuff in their memory tool kit to be used when the time is right.
Connecting info gives them context and allows more critical thinking. This helps to thoroughly understand the problem at hand.
When we are younger we are more open and collaborative and less blinkered in our own worldview. Growing up makes us question things less and we often accept things because “that’s just the way it is” or what we believe or have been told.
Creativity often strikes when we least expect it - in the shower or in the middle of the night - getting the brain to work subconsciously to make new connections and formulate new insights.
Considering and appreciating multiple points of view is also vital.
Diversity of opinion and knowledge gives you a solid sounding board to tackle and address problems.
When children are at play the possibilities are endless. In fact the games, music, and stories they create just keep getting grander as others add to it and build on it. No-one “owns” the idea. If the session fizzles out they move on to another activity for the sake of pure joy, laughter and creative expression.
In their world there is no jockey for power; they collaborate freely and naturally. They are happy to iterate; they look at a problem in a cross-disciplinary manner and they’re not driven by the linear, results focused and fear of failure culture most adults operate in.
Ensuring young people keep and develop these critical thinking skills so they become engaged, capable thinkers will be increasingly important as they are the ones who will solve tomorrow’s complex problems.
#problemsolving #creativity #thelittleredsofa #collaboration
