Allow Unstructured Time
Because children learn and make sense of their world through play, it’s important to allow them unstructured time to do as they choose. As adults, however, we seem to ignore the importance of discretionary, unscheduled time to engage in activities that allow free-ranging thought. With cluttered lives and busy calendars, people often have little time to think, let alone to do anything “playful.”
It’s surprising how many good ideas occur to us while we are cooking, walking the dog, working out at the gym, or even showering—times when we are in our own thoughts and can simply daydream. We should give these sorts of activities the credit they deserve; they enhance creativity and are never a waste of time. We need to assign time in our busy schedules to simply “be ourselves.”
Brainstorming ideas, discovering solutions, formulating plans, generating proposals, devising tactics, and taking time to reflect (a critical element of good teaching) require sufficient time for “clear” thinking. In our busyness, we often fail to think deeply enough. We could free up time for deeper thinking by setting aside technology-free periods in our day; uninterrupted downtime is important for general well-being, but it is particularly important if we want to create and innovate.
Provide Autonomy
Studies in organizational behavior demonstrate that we perform optimally and are more creative when we have a high level of autonomy, even if it’s not necessarily in what we do, but in how we do it.
Along these lines is an adage pinned on the wall of a colleague’s office: “You are not paid to work hard or to be at your desk at certain times. You are paid to get results!” Behind this message is a strong sense of individual control and responsibility for work outcomes. No one likes a micromanaging, nonsupportive, critical boss; such traits kill not only ingenuity but also goodwill. Trust, flexibility, and respect for individuals make for happy workers and learners who achieve more.
Trust, flexibility, and respect for individuals make for happy workers and learners who achieve more.
Stress No Failure
Individuals and groups in whom we hope to encourage initiative must feel free to act on suggestions, put forward proposals, designs, plans, or even inklings with no penalty and without fear of intimidation. Aiming for perfection is unnecessary; good results develop from the seed of an idea. Planning for improvement is valuable in and of itself, and from time to time, brilliant, inspirational results emerge.
Innovation is best encouraged through cooperation, not through competition and harsh judgment. The school or district culture must be safe for people to brainstorm and think out loud. If people don’t feel wanted, valued, and connected, they won’t be motivated to look forward. People of all ages need a positive environment and must feel valued in order to be creative and thrive.
Reward, recognition, appreciation, and acknowledgment go a long way toward enhancing inventiveness and making the working or learning place more convivial.
This is not to say that there is no accountability. Clear expectations and an openness to constructive discussion are helpful to all of us.
Align Values
We know the kinds of environments that bring out the best in us, but we also understand when we are in the wrong space. We instinctively know where and when we can add value. If our personal values and skills are not aligned with the organization, cognitive dissonance will stifle creativity and innovation.
Creative motivations are intrinsic, not extrinsic. To succeed, we need specific goals. Those goals are more likely to be achieved if they align with our personal values and in written form show what we want to achieve. The steps required to fulfill the journey are clear; we know what we need to do and within defined parameters.
Get Out and About
We are more likely to tap into our inner potential when we are open to new activities, new ways of thinking, and new ways of doing. We learn as we listen to and respect diverse views and opinions; grapple with new concepts, theories, notions, or suspicions; and talk them out, even in the early stages. We also learn by doing, by exposing ourselves to new skills and experiences that open our imagination and add to our capabilities.
We sometimes don’t know what we really know and think until we talk it through with others; we can learn by ourselves, but we learn much more when we interact.
Gratitude, optimism, and laughter are good foundations on which to build positive, constructive ideas.
Be Organized
Clearing our desk, our house, and our life promotes innovation and creativity. A cluttered space, like an overflowing calendar, simply leads to confusion, mistakes, frustration, wasted time, and diminished focus. It is time to rethink the red tape and time-consuming procedures we impose on ourselves and others.
Connect with Nature
The natural world is calming and enlightening. Taking the time to appreciate the wonderful world we live in and the other species with whom we share the planet feeds the soul, reduces stress, and promotes a sense of well-being and peace of mind. A calmed state of mind is one open to creating new possibilities.
Learn from Children
Letting go of inhibitions and being joyful are qualities we can learn best from children. They naturally think outside the box and let go of worries and cares. Gratitude, optimism, and laughter are good foundations on which to build positive, constructive ideas. In education, we can learn by observing our students more often!
Sleep on It
Waking refreshed sounds like a commonsense goal, but many of us fail to get sufficient deep, restful sleep. We know it is much harder to be innovative if we are tired and lethargic, so healthy sleeping habits are important. A healthy body creates a healthier, stimulated mind and enhances optimism. The old admonition “sleep on it” has basis. Thoughts are clearer and perspectives more reasoned after a good night’s sleep.
Act Now
We hear, “Just do it!” Whatever it is doesn’t have to be finished now; it simply needs to get started. Creativity and innovation require action, or they merely remain an idea or a dream. We enhance our own lives and those of others when we put in the effort and act on our ideas. We may not know where those ideas might lead, but we do know that nothing will change if we do nothing.