2008 R&D Awards

R&D Magazine recently released their list of the top 100 innovations for the year.

Did you know that Ohio ranked second, behind California for the most inventions? Of the 10 organizations that were selected from the state, 3 of them are from Northeast Ohio.

• See the entire list here.

Creative Lessons From Innovation Experts

I know I've been posting lots of links to magazine articles, but recently there have been so many good ones to pass along.

Here's the latest. In the June issue of Inc. magazine, innovation experts were asked how organizations can foster the creative spirit in their employees. The results were interesting and included a couple of unique ideas.

Write it Down
"Frog Design, a San Francisco-based consulting firm, publishes Frog Design Mind, a print and online magazine that serves as a quarterly compendium of staff articles on subjects that excite employees.

Bring in Outsiders
Many top innovation firms tap the perspectives of outside experts -- be they physicists, poets, actors, archaeologists, theologians, or astronauts."

• Read Innovation: How the Creative Stay Creative.

Time to Play

When was the last time you played? If you can't remember, then it's probably been too long. August is the perfect month to let your inner creative out to get some exercise.

Did you know?

Giving children the time, space, and tools to play can aid them in developing important coping and problem-solving skills in stressful situations, according to CWRU psychologists who are following children in a study on play and creativity in children. Results from the second of three longitudinal studies shows that creative children in the first and second grades continue to use their imaginations and emotions in their play in the fifth and sixth grades.

"Good early play skills predicted the ability to be creative and generate alternative solutions to everyday problems and a higher quality of solutions," says Sandra Russ, professor and chair of CWRU's Department of Psychology.

If play is that beneficial for children, imagine how it could enhance the adult brain.

• Have some interactive fun by exploring Invention of Play.

Inspiration Quote

"The best hope of solving all our problems lies in harnessing the diversity, the energy, and the creativity of all our people." - - - Roger Williams

• What problems could you solve with the help of other people?

Creative Tourism

Are you like me and seek out learning experiences when you travel or do you want to make your city a creative destination? If so, the Santa Fe International Conference on Creative Tourism may interest you.

It will be held from September 28 - October 2, 2008 in Sana Fe, New Mexico, which has recently been named as the first UNESCO Creative City in the United States.

Some of the program topics include Artist’s Tours: Generating Sales for Artists Through Creative Tourism and Keeping it Real, “Authenticity in the Creative Industries”. There's also a keynote by Eric Maisel, my creativity teacher.

• Plan your next creativity trip today.

Let Your Creativity Soar

The latest issue of Scientific American Mind features a discussion with several creativity experts, including John Houtz, Julia Cameron and Dr. Robert Epstein. Houtz and Epstein focus on the psychology of creating, while Cameron uses her own experiences that have shaped her creativity to explain how everyone can be creative.

But the one thing they all agree on is that the creative process is systematic and can be taught to anyone, who is willing to consistently use specific techniques. I agree with the consistency part, since that's really the key to developing any new skill.

Here's one technique mentioned in the article:

To boost your creative output, think and behave like creative people do: don't let criticism stop you from expressing your ideas and do not fear failure. Take breaks and learn to use them strategically; use daydreams as sources of new ideas.

• Read the entire article on how to unleash your creativity here.

How Are Your Creative Thinking Skills?

Don't know? That's why Dr. Robert Epstein has developed an online test that measures your creative ability by assessing four key skill sets used by creative thinkers. Dr. Epstein disregards the idea that creativity is "mysterious" and claims that by developing the right skills, everyone can enhance their creativity.

Based on 25 years of research, Dr. Epstein's generativity theory concludes that capturing, challenging, broadening and surrounding are the skills we can all use to be more creative thinkers. These are skills I have been using for years not realizing they were also making me more creative. What I have learned from them though, is that enhancing your creativity is a mindful process that you must practice every day to see results.

• Take the Epstein Creativity Competencies Inventory for Individuals (or ECCI-i) plus try the manager's verson of the ECCI-i to see how well you inspire creativity in others.