ARTICLES
& REPORTS
Organizational Innovation
About
Innovation Network
- O r g a n i z a t i o n a l _ I n n o v a t i o n -
Padi Selwyn
Creativity is fragile business. It is stimulated by the right environment,self-image, co-workers; inhibited by limiting beliefs, work situations and stresses. Awareness of the obstacles to creativity -- personally and professionally, can help us push through our creative blocks.
Here is a list of 23 blocks to creativity from Living Your Life Out Loud: How To Unleash Your Creativity and Unlock Your Joy. Which blocks are holding you back from your highest creative achievements? By becoming aware of what's getting in your way, you can begin to take steps to eliminate obstacles in your life, and start unleashing your creative genius more fully.
Self-Defeating Beliefs:
1. Fantasy & reflection are a waste of time.
2. Playfulness is for children only.
3. Problem solving is serious business; no fun or humor are allowed.
4. Reason, logic, numbers, practicality are good and feelings and intuition are bad.
5. Tradition is preferable to change.
6. You are not creative.
Self-Imposed or Emotional Blocks:
7. Fear of failure.
8. Inability to tolerate ambiguity and hang out until the best solution can be developed.
9. Inability to relax or incubate.
10. Excessive zeal to succeed quickly.
11. Lack of persistence.
12. Stress or depression.
13. Poor health habits: high fat diet, insufficient exercise & sleep.
Work Obstacles:
14. Lack of cooperation and trust among colleagues.
15. Autocratic management.
16. Too many distractions and easy intrusions.
17. Lack of acknowledgment or support of ideas and bringing them to action.
18. Wrong livelihood.
Intellectual or Expressive Blocks:
18. Lack of or incorrect information.
19. Inadequate skill to express or record ideas: (verbally, visually, mathematically)
20. Lack of intellectual challenge.
Societal Pressures:
21. Bombardment of information and pressure to keep up - Infoglut.
22. Acceleration of the pace of life and time - Lifespeed.
23. Addiction to consumerism.
Padi Selwyn, M.A., speaks internationally on creativity and innovation in business. She is co-author (with Salli Rasberry) of Living Your Life Out Loud: How To Unlock Your Creativity and Unleash Your Joy. Padi can be reached at 707-829-2641 or e-mail Padispeaks@aol.com