Change Implementation Techniques for Forming Transitional Team, Creating Alignment, Maximizing Connectedness and Creativity

Creativity and the Brain Process

{product-noshow 32|name|cart|picture|link|border|menuid:206|pricedis3|pricetax1}

Creative thinking has a number of observable traits

i. there is an ability to switch between primary conscious and secondary unconscious thought processes

ii. creative individuals show a lower level of cortical activity. As children's frontal lobes are less developed than in adults, children are better at thinking creatively

iii. creativity is primarily a right brain activity which involves making loose, or free-form associations between seemingly unrelated phenomena. On the other hand, the secret of creativity lies in an ability to switch modes, ie

"...regardless of which side of your brain is dominant, if you are creative, you are able to suppress elements you normally rely upon and dip into your opposite hemisphere...... certain neurotransmitters like acetylcholine may help this process..."

Robert Winston, 2003

iv. tend to be more introverted rather than extroverted

v. a moderate or controlled state of messiness (organised chaos) is more productive and creative than those who are overtly organised. Apparently allowing the mess to accumulate increases the chance of creating interesting connections, patterns or cross-references. Mess tend to juxtapose things that would otherwise be separated by order

It is of interest to note that many successful, creative people shows signs of dyslexia, including

- Richard Branson (Virgin group of companies)

- Kerry Packer (Consolidated group of Aust companies)

- Charles Schwab (discount brokerage firm)

- John Chambers (Cisco)

- Paul Orfalea (Kinko)

- Walt Disney (Disney Entertainment)

- Ted Turner (CNN)

- Kerry Stokes (Media baron in Australia)

- Brian Grazer (Film producer ‐ Splash, Apollo 13, 8 Mile & A Beautiful Mind)

- Gary Cohn (President of Goldman Sachs)

- David Boies (famous US trial lawyer)

- Lord Richard Rogers (famous architect)

- Tom Cruise (movie star)

- Steven Spielberg (movie maker)

- Jamie Oliver (celebrity chef)

NB They have turned a neurological mal-function into a success!!!!

What is dyslexia? It is a brain-based learning disability where people have a problem hearing & manipulating sounds. Most commonly displayed by poor reading (fluency, comprehension, speed, etc.), writing & spelling ability. It has no impact on memory, number calculations, etc

To handle this condition, some sufferers develop the following skills that make them successful, ie

- extract only vital information, ie simplify issues to their basics

- prefer face-to-face meetings (importance of non-verbals like gestures, tone of voice, etc)

- become good listeners

- develop good memory skills

- used to failure so they are willing to take risks, ie nothing to lose

- learn to delegate

- develop resilience & persistence as they are regarded as outsiders, ie rule breakers

- think differently (good for creativity)

These people do not perform well in standardised educational tests but think differently, which is an important attribute in creativity. Some of these people had hard times at school as they were regarded as bright but lazy!!!!

Generally, creative individuals are better at suggesting connections between ideas rather than solving problems; sometimes show a greater variability of response to external stimuli, ie

"...Heart rate, galvanic skin response and cortical arousal increased more sharply in response to sensory input.......also observable traits in people of introvert-type personalities - so there might be some basis for assuming creative people are likely to be more 'sensitive' to the world they experience. Arguably, this can explain why many artists, poets, novelist and the like tend to be introverts..."

Robert Winston, 2003

(sources: Robert Winston, 2003; Gabrielle Coppola, 2007; Eric Abrahamson et al, 2007; Wayne Mansfield, 2008; Fiona Smith, 2010d)