Appropriate for front line and
management people.
One of the most common problems today in any organization is the replacement of a creative
environment with a bureaucratic one. It can happen to organizations as a whole or to
departments inside the organization Though it is a common problem, it is often an
unseen one, especially by upper levels of management. In fact, management often see themselves
and their company as being very creative and on the "cutting edge" of whatever field they are in,
even when that is not the case.
What is going on?
An environment is created in which challenging any existing structure
or ideas is not encouraged. Since no one wants to admit to this type of situation, people
just deny that its happening. Management oftentimes just does not see what is going on while
the front line workers, who often do see what's going on, have learned that its easier to complain
among themselves than actually challenge the status-quo. Only when the bottom line is
affected do people start to look at what is happening. Even then, there is a tendency to look
for scapegoats instead of trying to understand the role of the environment itself. "Staying
Creative to Stay Ahead" is a seminar designed to help managers, executives, and front line workers
understand more clearly what creativity is and isn't, what is needed to make a typical work
environment more creative, and what can inhibit or even kill a creative environment.
Issues explored in this seminar include:
- "Cowbell" mentality
- Punitive environments
- "Teambuilding" based on negativity
- No follow-through
by managers
- Lack of a safe place to fail
- Rewards or lack of rewards for creative successes
- The importance
of honest communication
- Mutual trust
- The difference between being clever and being creative
- and more...
Creativity is an attitude that begins with individuals and
becomes part of the fabric of the organization. It is up to everyone in the organization to make sure
they are exploring what might be, and not just protecting what has been.
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