The Forgotten Half of Change: Achieving Greater Creativity through Changes in Perception

by Luc de Brabandere

Unlock and Embrace a New Mindset about Business Creativity The 20th century saw the United States dominate the world of innovation, but at the dawn of the 21st century it’s become pretty clear that the pace of change in a global economy demands not only innovation, but creativity. We must become as good at changing our perceptions as we have become at changing reality. Inspiring creativity is one of the most pressing needs for American corporations, particularly those in markets that are forcing them not only to improve but transform themselves. Yet true creativity can be had only if you are willing to break the rules that have locked you in a set way of thinking, not just doing. This unique book will help managers think about how they think. This understanding will help them inspire creativity and sense when it is time to focus on the second half of change—changing perception. The Forgotten Half of Change differs from other books the same way perception differs from reality. It is at once humorous and humanistic, making fun of our weaknesses yet sympathizing with our challenge to be both active and thoughtful. It entertains and challenges its readers at the same time with an array of examples drawn from philosophy, mathematics, technology, and linguistics. Ultimately, this book may help us regain our ability to astonish ourselves and others.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction

192 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2005

Reviews

[Nupur Netan Sachdeva · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book written by a partner in the Boston Consulting Group. M Luc de Brabandere is undoubtedly a business innovation expert and this book drew me in with an interesting premise. He theorises (and then goes on to prove) that change occurs on two different levels. One is a change in reality which is easy(ish) to observe and happens continuously in the world around us. This is the more obvious change that everyone talks of and tries to adapt to.
The second level, which is the more tricky one, is a change in perception. The discontinuous breaks in how we perceive the world that truly unleash creativity.

He shared very interesting insights and examples of concepts in creativity. Made me wonder if I’d be better off owning this book and referring to it on an ongoing basis, rather than borrowing it from the library! Given the author’s background, it’s no surprise that he has come across very interesting ideas. And at his level as an experienced consultant, his thought process is bound to be articulate.

But there were a lot of points in the book where I felt he was just trying to cram too much in there. It seems to be a case of trying to compress a lifetime’s worth of learning and experiences in a few hundred pages. There are so many passages worth highlighting that I eventually lost track of some (if not most) of the key concepts. Overall, I’d say I enjoyed the book but it’s not as much of a ‘must-read’ as I thought it would be.

[Raghav Mithare · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read recently. Practical and full of insights. Luc has done excellent work of distilling the wisdom of great thinkers and presenting it in a way that is relevant in our context. Some examples might look out of date but the underlying message is timeless. I highly recommend for professionals interested in consulting, change management, agile transformation.

[Ain Aaviksoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philosophy is good. Indoctrinating is a bit annoying.
Perhaps the editor asked a brilliant thinker to be "practical" and tell people, what exactly should they "do" with his observations.

I still enjoyed the book a lot (even after seeing a presentation by Mr Brabandere on the very topic, which appeared to be one of the most inspiring and persuasive one I've ever experienced at any conference). However, don't let yourself fooled by the cookbook style guide in the final chapter - the ideas have many more application options. Especially if you add to it your own experience and ideas. Be creative, as the author suggests
;-)