The 5 Things You Need to Think More Creatively: John Cleese
“Telling people how to be creative is easy. It’s only being that’s difficult. ”
It is far easier to say what creativity is not than to try explaining what it is.
It is not a talent, a born gift. It is a way of operating in which IQ is not an indicator.
As Sir Ken Robinson said, '“We are all born creative and with very great natural talents, but at the end of their education many of us lose them because the school did not value our talents, or even stigmatized them.”
Now, in his talk on Creativity in Management (which we 100% recommend you watch the entirety of here) John Cleese discusses the headspace you need to be in to operate on that creative level.
He separates the two modes that you can function at work as Open and Closed.
Creativity isn’t possible in the Closed mode, but most of the time that’s the mode we’re in.
Which is typical.
We can get stuck there through the pressures of the world place enforcing a tunnel vision that prevents us from seeing things from the bigger picture.
Cleese gives us 5 conditions that can make it more likely, but still not guaranteed, to move from one mode to the other and thusly provoke something creative:
Space
You can’t become relaxed in your normal work environment. Take yourself aside; create an ‘oasis of quiet’.
“Make a quiet space for yourself where you will be undisturbed.”
2. Time
You need to know that you have a specific moment to start the space and when to end it. Sealing in the moment for creativity.
“It’s easier to do trivial things that are urgent, than it is to do important things that are not urgent. ”
3. Time (pt.2)
Only giving yourself half an hour will cut off the creativity as soon as it has begun. Play with the problem and tolerate the discomfort before solving it. But you need to give yourself the time.
“Play is possible when we’re separate from everyday life.”
4. Confidence:
There will always be a certain element of risk involved when you’re attempting to come up with a new idea.
You might say something (🤭) stupid.
But that could lead you straight to your answer.
Holding yourself back with insecurity will prevent you from being all the way in the Open mode and hold back creativity.
Make mistakes! And remember:
“While you’re being creative, nothing is wrong.”
5. Humour:
Plain and simple: it’s the quickest way into the Open mode.
You may think: ‘If I’m considering a serious topic, wouldn’t humour seem out of place or inappropriate?’
No.
In your space-time oasis, laugh to your heart’s content. Humour does not remove the substance of a topic. Go on, have a giggle.
“Humour is an essential part of spontaneity, an essential part of playfulness, an essential part of the creativity we need to solve problems, no matter how serious they may be.”
If you use these parameters to create an Open creative creation area, you may find that everything flows a little easier!
Keeping the topic you want to think about in mind but not obsessing over it allows you the freedom to come up with new ideas and solutions.
Need more help prompting creative thinking?
Check out our Creative Thinking Course (made in partnership with Cannes Lions) here:
