Creative Thinking--It's Prickly Business
Clinics Can Boost Confidence and SkillCreativity is prickly and beautiful. |
Prickly business describes what it's like for many people to
develop strong creative and innovative thinking skills. Perhaps it would
be easier if we tackled skill building with the discipline of an
Olympic athlete.
Imagine what it's like training to be an
Olympic athlete. You would pour your heart and soul into skill building.
You would train, practice, get coached, and measure your progress.
You
wouldn't just read the book or attend one workshop on how to become
skilled at speed skating. Yet, this is often the approach taken by
organizations that invest in training employees to learn new tools and
skills. No wonder it's such a challenge.
Creativity Tip: Make
follow-on clinics part of your formal training process. It's very
inexpensive--it just takes some planning and time.
Here is an
example: Six Thinking Hats Clinics--Host a series of six one-hour
clinics for your staff that have attended a workshop.
One Hour Clinic:
- Review--one of the thinking hats
- Go deeper with additional techniques for that hat--example could be green hat concept extraction technique
- Give some new examples
- Invite attendees to share examples of use from their recent work
- Apply the hat to attendee challenges
- Coach
- Share new insights--group debrief
- Reminder of next clinic
My
golf instructor is great. I've been training with him now for two
years. Each formal lesson has focused on developing my golf swing using
my driver. One lesson wouldn't do it. Each lesson has built on the
previous lessons and takes into consideration my current situation with
my swing. Each time I learn something new. And each time, it's a tip or
strategy that I am finally ready to learn.
I
also attend his golf clinics. I wouldn't dream of skipping his golf
swing clinic in his clinic series. I know he will have a new tip to
share with me that will help me further improve my swing.
I find
that my confidence and my skill is improving. That would not be
happening if I had just read the book on golf swings and taken one
lesson. I think creativity training and skill building would be stronger
if we took the same approach.
It's no secret that as we emerge
from this challenging economic condition, the success of organizations
will be determined largely by the ability of employees to think
creatively in a new business environment. The old ways won't work as
well.
Be sure you are planning to leverage your training
investment and include a plan for follow-on clinics to develop employee
confidence and skill. It's a great way to add value. |
