Ep174: A Lesson in Creativity from a Dictator
We cheat on our own podcast for a story this week, as we talk about This American Life, North Korea’s former leader Kim Jong-il, creativity and risk.
Why is that important for business?
This episode references the This American Life podcast episode, Same Bed, Different Dreams https://www.thisamericanlife.org/718/same-bed-different-dreams
If, like Kim Jong-il, you are finding your people lack creativity, consider where you are making it unsafe to be creative. Perhaps there is too much structure, too little structure, or perhaps your people believe it is better to do something safe and crappy than to be sorry for taking a risk. And the risk doesn’t even have to seem dramatic – it doesn’t have to involve a single dictator to be a deterrent. But you do have to help your people embrace the risk of being sorry so they can push past crappy and safe.
While it might not be wise to create a culture that courts all kinds of failure, you need to encourage it in spaces that require creativity. You have to recognize and mine for the really good parts of failure that only arise because someone took a chance.
Keep in mind – this is often a blind spot for leaders. But when people aren’t acting the way you want them to, as a culture, there is a shockingly high probability that this is the reason.
Sometimes it is as easy as eliminating part of structure, so you create more breathing room for creativity.
Lastly, a great trick to look at the solution of opening up creativity is to access it as if you are giving advice instead of finding a solution from your current place within the problem. Imagine yourself being interviewed about your success – “how have you helped your team to work so creatively” – and imagine your answer.
What story do you want to tell?
So, that's our story... now, we want to hear yours!
Pull up a chair and join the conversation in our Facebook Group: bit.ly/shmsgroup
OR...
Shoot us an email: talktous@soheresmystory.com
Connect with @SHMSpodcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/shmspodcast
Text the word STORY to 345345 to get access to bonus content and weekly episode delivery.
Want to support us?
Love this podcast?
Please tell your friends, post about us, or take a moment to review us & subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to the podcast!
More episodes from So, Here's My Story...
Ep227: Our Final Story
It’s our final episode, and we have a lot to say, including thank you so much for listening!
Why is that important for business?
We are sad (and …
Ep 226: Organizational Depressive State
Is your business in a rut? Is everyone showing up with “Non-Player Characters” energy? When you have an Organizational Depressive State, it can be hard to get out of it – or can it be as …
Ep225: Hoarding and Hermione
How do you strike the balance between keeping things that you might not ever need, and getting rid of things that you might regret not having?
Why is that important for business?
Having …
Ep224: Do You Expect to Be Heard?
Do you expect to be heard? Or do you just assume that how things are is how they have to be?
Why is that important for business?
Do you have a say or a voice? Do you expect to be heard? If …
Ep223: Tight Glutes & Communicating Needs
Like all good lessons about asking for what you need in business, this lesson starts in a massage parlor.
Why is that important for business?
You need to be aware of your needs (in …
Ep222: Wrestling with Adversity
When you find out you are riding with the descendent of a nationally acclaimed blind wrestler, you know you’re in for some stories. And it turns out, we can turn those stories into some …
How you can listen to this podcast
You can listen to episodes right here on the website, or if you prefer, in a podcast app. Listening in an app makes it easier to keep track of what you’ve already heard, listen without using your data plan and many other conveniences.