Get out of the Tunnel
By Jay Forte, Humanetrics, LLC
Those who see it the way others do, will do it the way others do. Those who can see what others do not see, will lead and set the pace of change.
What will be the new method of business to business communication? What will be the hottest product on the market? What machine will make the manufacture of your product more timely and efficient? How will consumers want to shop and how will they want to pay?
Our jobs require us to be more creative - to take advantage of new technologies or anticipate where business may head. Business innovation happens because of creative thinking. Creativity requires the ability to dream – to see things differently, the ability to access life’s experiences – to know what is important and valuable, and the ability to manage our time – to get to the things that are important. The requirements may be simple but its implementation is difficult; the most difficult of these are in what are called time and tunnels.
Creativity, by its nature, requires a clear and unhurried mind. The pace of life, work and family has increased consistently throughout the years. We find we now have less time to handle daily requirements despite the continual improvements in technology and skills. We continually fill any new time with yet more things to do. Simplification does not seem to be a word in our vocabulary.
Creativity requires time. Creative minds allow themselves the time to think and dream. Time management is the most significant skill needed to encourage creativity. Include creative thinking time in your daily plan – use travel time or commuting time to allow yourself to envision changes in your products, business, communications or systems. Keep a pad of paper or small recorder to document your ideas. At weekly/monthly staff or team meetings, provide time to brainstorm ideas for problems or for new strategic directions or responses. Encourage a free and open dialog of ideas to unite the group and expand the experience pool.
Tunnels are the other creativity inhibitor - they result from our developing expertise in certain areas. Over time, to be an expert in your field, you specialize. Your interests or career direct you in certain ways; you become more focused and become an expert in your specific area. The result is that you see the world through a more clearly focused set of glasses. However, as more focused you become in one area, the less you see in others. This is the danger of the tunnel.
Tunnels are also the limitations that are imposed on us – many times from others and many times by ourselves. “Color in the lines”, “follow the rules”, “do what everyone else does”, “don’t be different” are all phrases that encourage our non-creative thinking. Those who see it the way others do, will do it the way others do. Those who can see what others do not see will lead and set the pace of change. We want to lead, not follow. We lead through innovation, and that is generated by creativity.
Creativity requires us to get out of the tunnel. When our view is so technical or so specialized, we dramatically limit our ability to expand our views; we have a difficult time seeing the situation other than by the specifics that helped us define it. Instead of helping us, it limits our ability to deal creatively and innovatively with solutions. Get out of the tunnel by first expanding your interests and contact with other subjects or areas. Get out of the tunnel by allowing yourself to brainstorm with others who do not see the world the way you do. Get out of the tunnel by addressing the issue or problem from some other perspective entirely. Commit to reading related trade journals or other materials unrelated to your field. Broaden your vision by connecting to the Internet and cruising through sites of personal or profession interest. Insure that your teams include others who do not see the world or the business as you do – this healthy challenge will encourage everyone to get out of their tunnels. The greatest thing that can be done is to be aware – to notice when the approach to a new problem sounds like the same approach to an old problem. Change your thinking and allow a new and different approach.
Business needs to be continually innovative – to constantly re-invent itself to stay dynamic and competitive. This happens when the business environment allows itself to be creative – to try things that others don’t do, to see things that could be instead of what is. Organizations that address each situation in similar ways suffer from stagnation - from being caught in the tunnel. The free and open exchange of ideas, thoughts and suggestions is the first response to changing the tunnel perspective. Get out of the tunnel to grow your business, wow your customers and increase your return; the quality of your response will be worth it.
Humanetrics LLC. All rights reserved 2007.