BIG, BAD Productivity Myths

BIG, BAD Productivity Myth #5: Some people are more creative than others.

Creativity is, in fact, equally gifted to each person. Bob is no more creative than Jen, who is no more creative than Sam. The difference is the way in which each person expresses her creativity. And that is where the confusion begins. We stereotypically think of creative people as those that come up with big, inventive ideas or wow us with their original works of art. Yes, those are incredible examples of creativity. However, we cannot forget that someone who designs a streamlined organizational system for an office space is equally creative. We also cannot diminish the creativity of someone who craftily infuses data and statistics into a business proposal.

A British science fiction writer, Brian Aldiss, wrote, "Whatever creativity is, it is in part a solution to a problem." I think Aldiss has a good handle on the concept. Anytime a person strives toward solving a problem or seizing an opportunity, his creative instincts are at play. No matter what form the solutions takes or how "far out" the idea, the process of arriving at a solution is inherently creative.

Thus, whether we are observing a marketing executive pull together a advertising campaign or an administrative assistant derive an office schedule, we are witnessing two beautiful, and equally creative instances.