Innovation is a key attribute in staying competitive and, along with customer service and quality, is one of three differentiating values found in high-performing companies. So say Thomas J. Peters and Robert H. Waterman in In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America’s Best-Run Companies. But are you really being innovative? Are you being creative?
EMS is facing new challenges that require new ways of thinking—and your organization’s ability to innovate relies on the creativity of yourself and the individuals on your team.
When was the last time you had a really good idea? Did it just pop up unexpectedly, or did it come out of a brainstorming meeting? Did it happen sitting in front of your keyboard in the office, or were you out for a walk? Where do ideas come from?
There are many good books about creativity, but we come back to the now-classic A Whack on the Side of the Head: How You Can Be More Creative, by Roger von Oech. It was first published in 1983 but is still considered the best (and most fun) read on the topic.
In it, von Oech frames the issue by devoting one chapter each to the 10 locks that limit creativity—such things as trying to follow the rules, being logical, trying not to look foolish and avoiding ambiguity at all costs. Sound familiar?
In these times, thinking creatively is more important than ever. We recommend reading (or re-reading) von Oech. And in the meantime, to energize your team’s creativity, get them out of the office. A change of venue can help break through some of those barriers when a new perspective and new ideas are important.
