Feeling Creative?

Last night I was invited together with Ralph Kerle, Executive Chairman from the Creative Leadership Forum to conduct a session on “The Creative Brain and how it works” for the Sydney Facilitators’ Network. Approximately 60 – 70 professional facilitators attended this 90 minute presentation and I must say: “We all had a ball”. Thank you, Greg Jenkins for inviting us and for putting together this fabulous group of people. The power of creative thinking is amazing - when it is released. The energy in the room changes, people feel engaged and motivated.

The question is: are you leveraging from the power of creativity in your work environment? 

As Edward de Bono once said:

There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns.

Creative thinking allows people to solve problems on issues they are working on. Google allows staff to work on anything they want 20% of the time. They have reported that 80% of their best products and solutions come from the time people spend on creative endeavours.

Positive mood facilitates creative thinking. Positive mood and happy thoughts release endorphins in our body, making us feel good and energised to do more.

On the other hand, negative emotions such as anxiety, frustration, worry and anger have an undermining effect on creativity, performance and our physiology. There is nothing wrong with experiencing some of these emotions from time to time.

However, if the environment in which we are living, working or learning is full of negativity, with little or no positive input, then everyone becomes less effective in what they do. Negative emotions may also affect our body and thinking capacity. They can increase our heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol –the stress hormone.

Join in the fun of creative thinking. It is worth it!!

For those passionate about soccer and creativity, watch this commercial. It is brilliant!

“Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. What if they are a little coarse and you may get your coat soiled or torn? What if you do fail, and get fairly rolled in the dirt once or twice. Up again, you shall never be so afraid of a tumble.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson