Team Work and CreativityTeam Work and Creativity

Why work in a team? I can do it better myself.

Things Researchers and Other Things Researchers and Other Smart People Know about Working Smart People Know about Working

in Teamsin Teams

The Ability to work in Teams is one of the Top Five Skills that Employers look for in hiring and promoting

Companies that utilize teams in development of products, etc. benefit greatly because…..

Teams bring a diversity of skills Teams bring a diversity of skills and perspectives to bear on any and perspectives to bear on any

given problem.given problem.

Things Researchers and Other Things Researchers and Other Smart People Know about CreativitySmart People Know about Creativity

People who critically and creatively think are more likely to be successful in school

People who critically and creatively think are more likely to be successful in work settings

People who think creatively are more likely to describe their lives as fulfilling and satisfying

Working with OthersWorking with Others

Task Processes: Specific interactions that focus on the job at hand

Transactional Processes: interactions that carry communication about:– individuals

– the team

– the task processes

Without transactional processes, we can’t do the task processes

What makes a team?What makes a team?

Work group: Relies primarily on the individual contribution of its members for group performance

Team: Strives for a magnified impact that is incremental to what its members could achieve in their individual roles

DefinitionDefinition

A team is a diverse group of people who share leadership responsibility for creating a

group identity in an interconnected effort to achieve a mutually defined goal within the

context of other groups and systems.

DiverseDiverse

Specific and Different Resources and Abilities are

Needed

Shared LeadershipShared Leadership

Because of the diversity and the specificity of the task, every member must guide the team whether there is a

designated leader or not

A Created IdentifyA Created Identify

A team self-image that becomes a cohesive and motivating force

Interconnected EffortsInterconnected Efforts

Efforts constantly weave and coordinate the contributions of

each member

Mutually defined goalMutually defined goal

Communicate intensely to develop goals and ways to achieve them

ContextContext

Work is affected by the context, the environment, and the system

within which it works.

The Creative ProcessThe Creative Process

As Described by Roger von Oech

The Different Types of Creative The Different Types of Creative ThinkingThinking

Explorer Artist Judge Warrior

ExplorerExplorer

Provides the Raw Materials from which new ideas are made

facts concepts experiences knowledge feelings etc.

ExplorerExplorer Dares to go where no one has gone before

– Using only safe routes is not exploration Need to look in uncharted territory Need to wander how it all fits in Need to feel a little lost Need to pay attention to unusual

patterns Need to Use different senses

When have you been an explorer?When have you been an explorer?

ArtistArtist

Takes the raw material and makes something new from it

experiment with variety of approaches

Ask “what if” questions

Break the rules or create new ones

When have you been an When have you been an artist?artist?

JudgeJudge

Ideas are great, but decisions have to be made!

Is this idea good? Is it worth pursuing Will it give me the return I want? Do I have the resources to make it happen?

JudgeJudge

Evaluate and critically weigh the evidence

Look for drawbacks Wonder if it will work Question your

assumptions Listen to your gut Make a Decision!

When have you been a When have you been a Judge?Judge?

WarriorWarrior

Implement your Idea! Take the Idea into

Action! Be offensive!

WarriorWarrior

Need to develop a strategy

Be flexible enough to change it

Commit yourself to reaching your objective

WarriorWarrior

Overcome excuses idea killers temporary setbacks other obstacles Need to have the

courage to do what is necessary

When have you been a When have you been a Warrior?Warrior?

ReviewReview Your Explorer is your role for searching

for new information and resources; Your Artist is your role for turning those

resources into new ideas; Your Judge is your role for evaluating the

merits of an idea and deciding what to do with it; and

Your Warrior is your role for carrying your idea into action.

Creative ProcessCreative Process

Linear Progression??– Likely you will use Explorer role in earlier

stages, – Artist and Judge in the middle stage– Warrior in the later stages

But, there should be a fair amount of shifting around

Two Main Reasons for FailureTwo Main Reasons for Failure

Weak RolesBad Timing

1 1 3

Use It or Lose ItUse It or Lose It

You have to make a deliberate effort to get and keep all of your creative

roles

Timing is EverythingTiming is Everything

Knowing when to use your roles is vitally important to your success.

For example: Using your judge when you need to explore Using your artist to implement your idea

Need to Shift to Roles when it is Necessary

Getting Stuck in a RoleGetting Stuck in a Role Explorer: Never get around to making sense

of ideas Artist: Spend all your time working and re-

working your creation & not letting go Judge: Inhibit your artist and spend so much

time evaluating that you never make a decision

Warrior: Rush into action whether you are ready or not

Team Work and CreativityTeam Work and Creativity

Questions….Questions….

Describe the Role(s) in the Creative Process that you Feel Most Comfortable With.

Describe the Role(s) that is Most Unfamiliar and Uncomfortable for you.

Questions...Questions...

How could Utilizing a Team be Useful in the Creative Process?