The context
The words “creativity” or “innovation” are rather fashionable right now. Business magazines stress that they are essential for you to deliver ongoing results. Little is included about the pragmatic, on-the-ground work needed, between people over time, to make stuff happen.

Innovation - especially at the risky, more radical end of the continuum - is hard work, with no guarantee of success. It tends to excite, annoy and generate anxiety. As a leader your role is to ensure that productive exploration continues, whilst acknowledging the roller-coaster ride.

I believe that:

• Creative solutions can’t be predicted, there is no guarantee of success, but there are well-researched practices to raise the odds in your favour.

• Facilitating sessions needing creative thinking is different to chairing a meeting.

• What aids the generation of ideas is different from what helps successful implementation.

• Surprise is an essential part of successful creative thinking! Leaders have to help people acknowledge the anxiety that goes with the uncertainty of creativity. They also have to provide sufficient focus to help people explore with spontaneity.

• Creative problem solving can make work more fun, humane and meaningful for us.

• People do learn to balance creative and critical thinking, and to apply each judiciously.