UNLEASH the POWER of the

The Role of Creativity in Strategic Thinking

Agenda

1. Think Strategically2. Right Brain/Left Brain3. Innovation and Creativity4. Primary Principles of Innovation5. Creativity Generator6. It’s All About Possibility7. Wrap Up and Questions

Strategy

Determination of the basic long-term goals and objectives of an enterprise, and the adoption of courses of action and the allocation of resources necessary for carrying out these goals

Strategic thinking and creativity are requirements of doing this activity well

Strategic Thinking

Answers four key questions:

Where are we now?

Where do we want to be?

How do we get there?

How will we know?

Reorganizing Klee’s Colour Table

There are many ways to see the same thing

Right Brain or Left Brain?

Are you predominantly right brain or left brain?

Do you see the image rotating clockwise or counter clockwise?

If it spins clockwise, you supposedly use more of your right brain

If it spins counter clockwise, you’re more of a left brain person

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONSUses logicDetail orientedFacts ruleWords and languagePresent and pastMath and scienceCan comprehendKnowingAcknowledgesOrder/pattern perceptionKnows object nameReality basedForms strategiesPracticalSafe

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONSUses feeling“Big picture" orientedImagination rulesSymbols and imagesPresent and futurePhilosophy and religionCan "get it" (i.e. meaning)BelievesAppreciatesSpatial perceptionKnows object functionFantasy basedPresents possibilitiesImpetuousRisk taking

We need both types of people in a planning process

Those who can see the forest (big picture) and those who can see the trees (details)

Think Strategically

You can use innovation to meet the gap between increased or new community needs and a lack of financial resources

Innovation Creativity

Innovation = the development of new ideas or methods, that when implemented, create value

Creativity = the ability to transcend traditional ideas. Creativity is the starting point for innovation and is applied throughout the innovation process

Primary Principles of Innovation

Everything is connected to everything

New thoughts, new action, new results

Everyone is creative and innovative

Everything is Connected to Everything

Everything in the universe affects everything else because they are part of the same unbroken whole

We live based on an explicit order – based on our thoughts and perceptions (filters)

Need to move to an implicate order – start with the fact that you don’t know the answer and that you are only able to see a piece of a fuller range of possibility

What’s the bigger picture?

Small Group Discussion

Everything is connected to everything

What are the implications of this principle for our planning process?

New Thoughts, New Actions, New Results

Thought is the starting point of every new creation. Thought creates

If our thinking doesn’t change neither will the results

The range of our present possibilities does not extend far beyond the range of our present thoughts

Thinking determines actions. Actions determine results

Nine Dot Puzzle

Directions: Connect the 9 dots using four straight lines without lifting the pencil from the paper

Ah, the phenomenon of the mind...we see a box with dots in four corners even when it doesn’t exist

Small Group Discussion

New thoughts, new actions, new results

What are the implications of this principle for our planning process?

Everyone is Creative and Innovative

Creativity and innovation are not rare Creativity and innovation can be studied Can be developed by anyone Less than 5% of people over 45 years are creative. At

age 5 it was 90%. What is the conclusion?

Small Group Discussion

Everyone is creative and innovative

What are the implications of this principle for our planning process?

Creativity

What is the difference between the right answer and the best answer?

Don’t stop generating ideas with the first one that you think is “right”. The first “right” answer is not necessarily the best answer

What is half of 8?

Creativity Generator

Scan: need to define the right question Focus: need to use the right criteria Act: build, test, draft, learn

Always start with an individual generated list and then work as a group to scan and focus

Do not use phrases that shut down the discussion

Scanning Guidelines

Quantity not quality counts Don’t be logical or evaluate Scanning is not about being right Create a free association of ideas Welcome radical ideas

Focusing Guidelines

First, select the right criteria Quality counts – use best judgement Listen carefully Value differences Let your thoughts be known Do not focus while scanning!

Activity

Scan: Write down all the uses you can think of for my belt

Focus Criteria: Most unique idea Do a personal scan and focus (top 3 choices) and

then a group scan and focus (top 3 choices)

Questions to Stimulate Creativity

What would you do if there was no money or time limitations?

How can we improve this work AND make it more fun?

What is the great “gift” in this problem? How else might we define the problem we are

discussing? How else might we solve this problem?

It’s All About Possibility

The Art of Possibility - YouTube

Discussion Question

How can innovation and creativity be used in your planning process?

Reflection

What learnings and reflections do I have from this session?

What are some potential actions for my Regional Network?

Wrap Up and Questions

References GoInnovate! (2003). Making Innovation Happen

Seminar and Workbook. Winer, Michael and Karen Ray. (1994). Collaboration

Handbook: Creating, Sustaining and Enjoying the Journey. Minnesota: Amherst H. Wilder Foundation.

Zander, Rosamunde Stone and Benjamin Zander. (2000). The Art of Possibility. New York: Penguin Books.