John Cleese on Creativity In Management

Research proves that anyone can be creative regardless of their IQ. Creativity is a way of operating therefore the environment and surrounding conditions rather that individual traits are critical to successful creative process.

People operate in two modes: open and closed. Each of those is relevant for a different purpose and both are important in everyday life.

Depending on personal preference, personality and sociological factors people default to one mode or the other. High-speed life does not promote open mode as it requires deliberate slowing down.

This is the action mode where stuff gets done, decisions are implemented and goals are achieved.

It is associated with: pressure, tension, doing, purpose, goal-orientation, sense of urgency

Outliers (behaviours and concepts varying from assumed standard) are irrelevant and dismissed.

This is the slow mode where one can ponder the issues, experiment and explore new connections.

It is associated with: play, exploration, relaxation, humour, childlike behaviours, being just for enjoyment, not for particular goal.

Outliers are treated as clues for further investigation.

1. Ponder the problem (open mode)
2. Implement the solution (closed mode)
3. Review the feedback (open)
4. Implement next stage, pursue other avenues, correct errors (closed)

Create oasis of quiet for a defined period of time. This requires SPACE and TIME.

SPACE:

Create a no-pressure, distraction-free environment sealed off from the outside. Block time in calendar, go to a place you don't associate with everyday work and where you can feel relaxed.

TIME (duration):

Define the length of sealed-off time. Allow nothing to interrupt it and discipline yourself into letting go of current affairs.

This requires TIME, CONFIDENCE and HUMOUR.

TIME:

Allow the mind to settle before deep diving into issues. Take your time to let go of everyday problems. Plan this "settling" time into the process i.e.: 90 minutes = 30 minutes settling + 60 minutes pondering.

Use all the time you have assigned. First ideas are easy to take but might not be the best ones and serve as stepping stones to the final solution. One needs to tolerate the discomfort of not having a solution in order to fully explore the possibilities.

you're either free to play, or you're not

Your oasis is a safe space where mistakes don't exist. If you play alone, allow yourself irrational thoughts. If you play with others never discourage, judge nor destroy and only build on ideas.

Creativity is about connecting two pre-existing ideas in a novel way. Don't be logical: allow intermediate impossibles meaning you don't have to be right at every stage but only at the end.

you can't be spontaneous within reason

Facilitates creation of safe environments, encourages trust, switches neural focus. Is associated with children and thus fits into open mode dynamics.