Unlocking Creativity: How to Solve Any Problem and Make the Best Decisions by Shifting Creative Mindsets

by Michael A. Roberto

Many creative individuals working in organizations today encounter resistance to new ideas, much as the path-breaking artists, scientists, and inventors have experienced throughout history. Experts reject their ideas and defend the status quo. Leaders exhibit closed-minded behavior when newcomers challenge the conventional wisdom or question established practices. On the other hand, senior leaders claim that creativity is a top priority because they desperately seek growth and renewal. Many large firms face a growth crisis today, with revenues increasing slowly or even shrinking. These organizations do not lack talented people with original ideas. They lack an environment in which these people can flourish. Leaders claim to want bold, transformative ideas, yet obstacles to creativity arise at every turn. This book explores the six organizational mindsets that inhibit creativity in many enterprises. These mindsets represent powerful obstacles that must be dismantled for the creative process to thrive. Leaders do not need to generate more great ideas. They must clear the path so that curious thinkers throughout their teams and organizations can experiment, learn, and discover.

Genres: Business, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Psychology

210 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 31, 2018

Reviews

[Moh. Nasiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

گره گشایی از موانع خلاقیت

Creativity in the workplace is more important than ever. Unfortunately, many work environments discourage people from taking creative risks. There are six mind-sets that hamper workplace creativity. You can empower workers to come up with their own creative solutions by challenging these mind-sets and creating an environment where everyone feels safe to make creative suggestions.  

Here’s a little test. Ask some of your colleagues which quality they think is most valuable at work. In all likelihood, one quality will get mentioned more than any other: creativity.

Back in 2010, IBM did the major-corporation equivalent of this test. It asked 1,541 executives and other leaders this same question. You guessed it, 60 percent of leaders, a considerable majority, said creativity contributed more to success than any other attribute.

This opinion makes sense. The current market landscape is defined by innovation and disruption. If a company can’t come up with creative solutions to the market’s complex, quicksilver problems, then that company is doomed to failure.

But here’s the thing: though most leaders talk the creative talk, they don’t walk the creative walk. They say they want creativity, but in the meantime, they perpetuate workplace structures and practices that discourage creativity.
موانع ششگانه خلاقیت
This book explain the six main mind-sets that hamper creativity at work, and offer a handful of techniques for resisting them.

1. Linear mindset
2. Benchmarking mindset
3. Predictive mindset
4. Structured mindset
5. Focused mindset
6. Naysayer mindset


why businesses should emulate Dave Grohl;
what sort of employee Leonardo da Vinci would have been; and
how Mark Twain approached the problem of focus.

Actionable advice:

All too often, new ideas are met with a disheartening response. People tend to say, “Yes, but…” – as in, “Yes, but we tried that last year, and it didn’t work so well.” You can counteract this tendency by following the example of improvisational comedy. In improv, people are taught to always say, “Yes, and…” This keeps the scene rolling, and often leads to some pretty entertaining scenarios. So why not try the same approach at work? Next time someone comes up with an idea, don’t shoot it down with a but; build on it with a yes!

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Counteract the linear mind-set by incorporating an iterative approach to product creation.

Imagine you’re a team leader. Recently, you’ve been having difficulty with a member of your team, a talented but eccentric guy. He’s got a history of failing to meet deadlines, sometimes simply abandoning assignments altogether. A perfectionist, he also iterates obsessively, tinkering with prototypes rather than delivering.

You like the guy, but it’s just not working out. So you call Leonardo da Vinci into your office and fire him.

If you’re thinking, “Hold on, I’d never fire one of the most brilliant people of all time,” then pause a moment. Yes, history recognizes Leonardo da Vinci as a genius, but the man who painted the Mona Lisa probably wouldn’t fair too well in the current market landscape. He was a chronic procrastinator, extending deadlines for years, and sometimes never meeting them. 

Most of today’s leaders would fire Leonardo for a simple reason: he had an iterative mind-set, and they have a linear mind-set, which is the first creativity-blocking mind-set we’ll explore.

The linear mind-set approaches projects like this: First, you do your research. Then you analyze the data you’ve collected. After that, you make an execution plan based on your analysis. Next you create a budget for the plan. Then, you execute it.

No one can deny the importance of research and analysis, but there’s no way to make a perfect plan prior to embarking on a project. Unforeseen obstacles will rear their ugly heads. Unimagined problems will arise.

That’s why it’s better to adopt a less linear approach to production. First, build a working prototype. Then launch it. After that, evaluate its reception. Then adapt based on that evaluation and build again. And then repeat the process.

Skype’s Director of Design, Peter Skillman, once created a design challenge that made the effectiveness of the iterative approach particularly apparent. Here’s the challenge: using 20 pieces of uncooked spaghetti, a bit of string, some tape, and a marshmallow, make the tallest structure you can. The twist: the marshmallow must sit atop the completed tower.

Business school graduates ended up being among the worst at this challenge. They treated the task linearly, devising a concrete plan and then sticking to it. More often than not, their towers toppled when the marshmallow was placed on top.

Six-year-old children proved to be much better tower builders than the MBA holders. Da Vinci-style, the kids iterated, using the time not to plan, but to experiment.
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What to read next: Farsighted, by Steven Johnson

No one can deny that creativity is an important attribute in the workplace. But it’s still just one ingredient in the business-success recipe. There are many other ingredients, and one of the most crucial is how leaders approach decision-making.

ref: blinkist.com

[Rehmat · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent approach toward business, workplace, corporate or public sector organizations.

Creativity in the workplace is more important than ever. Unfortunately, many work environments discourage people from taking creative risks. There are six sorts of mindsets that hamper workplace creativity. They are hereunder;

1. Linear mindset
2. Benchmarking mindset
3. Predictive mindset
4. Structured mindset
5. Focused mindset
6. Naysayer mindset

Though, apparently some of the mindsets above sound positive but it's essential to go through the book to become well familiar with these mindsets with supporting examples and solutions how to cope with such prevailing environment of mindsets.

A must read book for any executive in private sector or bureaucrats in public sector entities. The book will eqiup you with theoretical knowledge how you can empower workers to come up with their own creative solutions by challenging these mind-sets and creating an environment where everyone feels safe to make creative suggestions and creative risks.  

[Emmanuel Ayeni · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this blink for this book Michael built on the difference between linear thinking and the thinking that creates and encourages creativity in the work place.


He stresses on the need for creativity in the workplace and how the current marketplace is marked by innovation and disruption.

Michael Roberto shares tips for staying creative and yet focused on projects from historical examples like Leonardo da Vinci Mark Twain etc.

One interesting takeaway is that 'Creativity almost always begins as imitation')

He goes on to share the 6 mindsets that hamper creativity in the workplace and hints to countering them while building creativity into the company structure.
Viz:

Linear Mindset

Benchmarking mindset

Every workplace is filled with creative individuals, it is up to the Leaders to create the enabling environment for them to flourish.

Prediction Mindset

structural mindset

Focus Mindset

Naysayers Mindset

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had high expectations for this book and it lived up to them. This was a book that I had been excited to read for a while but kept putting aside because I wanted to be in the right mindset. When I started reading it I could not put it down. It offers great insight no matter what your occupation, level, or interests are. I will take key principles from this book and look to incorporate into my management style immediately. I will also share what I have learned with my team. Well done Professor Roberto. I look forward to whatever your next project may be.

[Synthia Salomon · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Creativity in the workplace is more important than ever. Unfortunately, many work environments discourage people from taking creative risks. There are six mind-sets that hamper workplace creativity. You can empower workers to come up with their own creative solutions by challenging these mind-sets and creating an environment where everyone feels safe to make creative suggestions.  

Actionable advice:

Take a tip from improv!

All too often, new ideas are met with a disheartening response. People tend to say, “Yes, but…” – as in, “Yes, but we tried that last year, and it didn’t work so well.” You can counteract this tendency by following the example of improvisational comedy. In improv, people are taught to always say, “Yes, and…” This keeps the scene rolling, and often leads to some pretty entertaining scenarios. So why not try the same approach at work? Next time someone comes up with an idea, don’t shoot it down with a but; build on it with a yes!”

[I Read, Therefore I Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael A. Roberto is Director of the Center for Program Innovation at Bryant University. In this thought-provoking book that will appeal to anyone who has worked at a large organisation, he sets out the 6 organisational mindsets that can block creativity within the workplace and offers ways of countering them, drawing on numerous business, technological and creative case studies and social psychology experiments to help make his case.

[Gabrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the simplicity of the setup (six mindsets to avoid) of the book. You’re able to read each chapter in whatever order and no need to go sequentially. Each chapter has easy-to-implement tips to enable greater creativity or to not stifle it. I read the book for the second time after a year ago as certain pieces stuck in my head still after a year and wanted to re-read to see what other insights would stick this time. I don’t typically re-read books so that is saying something that I did!

[Abby Epplett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Michael A. Roberto presents stories and studies on people unlocking their creativity in the work place or at school. Topics include resistance to new ideas, difficulties with accurate predictions, and play the devil's advocate. While some stories were novel, I had heard several of them previously in other books. However, this was an easy and entertaining read, significantly better than most business books.

[Angela O'Meara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for learders

Well researched with numerous case study examples to add dept and context. Having served for over 35 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and now for over two years in the civilian sector I am convinced that leadership development is an infinite journey. This book is an exceptional aid to that journey.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Roberto's work, but I was mildly disappointed by this book. The ideas and tips for harnessing creativity did not strike me as useful and original as insights from Roberto's previous books.

[Himanshu Agrawal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again more of a note to myself rather than a review.
Michael talks about changing 6 mindsets to unlock creativity: (LBP SNF)
1. Linear mindset
2. Benchmarking mindset
3. Prediction mindset
4. Structural mindset
5. Naysayer mindset
6. Focus mindset

[Jmac · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite thinkers on creativity and how teams collaborate. Mike Roberto fuses deep research with great storytelling. He shares knowledge accessibly to ensure that the reader experience is pleasant. Highly recommend this book.

[Rifa Coolheart · Rating 3 out of 5]

The key message is that creativity in the workplace is more important than ever. Unfortunately, many work environments discourage people from taking creative risks. There are six mindsets that hamper workplace creativity.

[Brian Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reveals the pros and cons of different creative mindsets and why restructuring usually doesn't work.

[Soul · Rating 4 out of 5]

To take creative risks and have a psychologically safe environment to create something new.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was okay, nothing new

[Crini · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm... nice but nothing you haven’t read in creativity books before.