Under Pressure
Ease tension and get the creative juices up and running again.
The starting point for every creative act is the unknown. For
most of us, this is not good news. Uncertainty is
uncomfortable.
So how do you encourage people to step into the unknown when
embarking on a new creative process? Providing a safe environment
is essential. When asking your employees to create something
innovative, let them know they won't be punished if they
don't succeed. Clearly communicate you know the outcome is
uncertain, and provide the time and resources your people need to
create. And, as always, define the desired parameters of the
outcome so you can measure success.
If you don't get a workable result, hold a debriefing
session to learn what to do differently next time. The tone and
mood of this meeting are very important. Don't use the meeting
as a time to place blame for a missed deadline or an unworkable
result; ask questions, listen to your team and learn from what they
tell you. The project team at one company I know writes a report
and shares it with the entire management team so everyone can learn
from their experience. The company's CEO makes it clear she
doesn't define not succeeding as failure. It's a learning
experience.
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What do you do when you're way behind schedule and no
solution is in sight? Cultivate creative stamina-in other words,
learn how to manage frustration and anxiety. This stressful period
is a common part of the creative process. Here are a few strategies
to help you and your staff:
- Take breaks. Don't keep
going when no ideas are coming. Break the tension by taking a brief
break, and then get back to work. Remember, too much tension makes
it very difficult to be creative.
- Go for a walk. Moving your
body gets your brain moving. If the ideas aren't flowing, take
your colleagues out of the conference room to get some air.
- Learn and practice some breathing
relaxation exercises. Even a minute of conscious
breathing can dissipate tension.
It takes courage to step into the unknown and risk failure, and
it takes courage to hang in there when the process is not going
well. Learning how to navigate uncertainty and ambiguity will keep
you going until you reach the creative breakthrough.
Juanita Weaver is a creativity coach and consultant. Tell her
how your company sparks creativity by writing her at juanita@juanitaweaver.com.