Big Little ThingsHow to give creativity its due (instead of killing it or faking it or misleading yourself about it) so that it can actually happen - Part 1 of 3
Before we started Language in Common, we spent an embarrassing number of years at a bunch of different shops that claimed that “creativity†was their thing. And we joined each of these shops because we wanted to do creative work. So you can only imagine how much it SUCKED to find out that it was all hype.
Turns out, most places don’t even do the very basic things needed to let creativity live in their work. They’re pretty easy to do, but you have to get fucking serious about doing them.
Here’s the first two (of eight) ways to give creativity its due:
Become aware of no
Idea generation is a different exercise than idea selection. So when new ideas come up, don’t judge them just yet. Let them be, no matter how retarded you think they are. But if you simply cannot stop yourself, if the urge to reject them outright is stronger than the potential of an untested idea, you better contribute another one to take its place.
Become aware of yes
Don’t say yes when no is required. When you’re selecting ideas, it’s sometimes easier to agree with the group than to push for an unpopular idea. This kind of laziness helps no one. So if your group begins to settle around an idea you don’t believe in, have the balls to say no, because it’s your job to say what you really think.
