How Do We Address The Fear of Creativity?

Today is World Creativity and Innovation Day as designated by the United Nations.

My creative and business worlds are finally coming together and I couldn't be happier. I waited until today to share this article. If you haven't yet read it, and you care about creativity and change management, you must devour it. Creativity is not just about art and design and beauty; it is also about problem solving and changing the status quo. It is filled with uncertainty and that scares the hell out of many.

It is about looking at different schools to recruit students who are more diverse, and not complaining when you can't change your demographics if you only do the same things.  It is about thinking of the metaverse as a place to onboard new employees, not just as a place to play games or order food.  It is about alternative fee arrangements with clients, communicating through different means and being open to managing a remote workforce.

This NYT's article by Matt Richtel is powerful. It talks about tomes research done by Jack Goncalo and his team. It talks about the implicit bias around creativity. And why we want to applaud and celebrate it, yet most people, especially in business, fear it. The article is adapted from Richtel's just published book, Inspired: Understanding Creativity. A Journey through Art, Science, and the Soul.

I want to better understand why leaders fear creativity, in order to help infuse positive and creative change with my clients, and with the world. Running to read this.