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Inspiration
Making room for creativity
uccess in the payments industry, or any endeav- Room to fail
or, requires creativity. While it is never certain
that the most creative individuals or companies Another hallmark of creativity is being willing to
S will be the most successful in terms of money experiment, and fail. But many people have a fear of
or prestige, it is indisputable that the more inventive the failure, as the result of negative feedback. For example,
individual and the organization, the more fun and inter- if you have brainstorming sessions where your ideas are
esting work – and life – will be. ridiculed or ignored, you are more likely to remain silent
the next time. Such an atmosphere kills the impulse to
Creativity is a natural instinct that all people possess to a innovate.
greater or lesser degree. Why one person is more creative
than another is hard to pinpoint because it is On the other hand, in a more free-flowing
a complex matrix of innate ability, social environment, where ideas are unreservedly
upbringing, environment, health and bandied back and forth, great moments
many other factors. of insight can be achieved. It is
often the case that one person's
But what is easy to understand comment sparks another
is that creativity can be person's insight that, in turn,
nurtured, to the benefit of results in the proverbial
the individual worker and aha! moment. Solutions to
the overall business. It just problems are often found
takes the right mindset this way. But it requires an
and the willingness to open and nonjudgmental
make the effort. environment to flourish.
Room to grow The secret to fostering
such an environment is
Maybe the biggest part to take the negativity out
to unlocking creativity of failure. The way to do
is simply being willing that is to take a scientific
to change. Rigid corporate approach to problem solving.
structures are usually enemies For scientists, failure is
of change and, not surprisingly, expected, even welcomed. How
creativity. But even within the else can they know what works if
most change-averse organizations, they don't know what doesn't work
there is room for inventiveness. first?
It may begin with individuals who choose to Room to seek
engage co-workers rather than smartphones on breaks. Is
it any wonder that among the most enjoyable of human Creativity is the tool used down through the ages to
experiences are simple face-to-face conversations? Don't unlock human potential, and it is available to everyone.
forget that a good conversation is the essence of the When sales pros open their tool boxes, they should know
creative spirit, as it often begins with one topic and ends that inventiveness is in there somewhere. They just have
with an entirely different one, and along the way, the to go in and find it.
conversationalists have a pretty good time.
Or maybe office managers can change up the routine
now and again. Order pizza for the office on the spur of
the moment, or bring in a respected business colleague
to give an informal talk to the crew. Originality can be
spontaneous and still fit within the confines of corporate
structures and professional work environments.
57
Making room for creativity
uccess in the payments industry, or any endeav- Room to fail
or, requires creativity. While it is never certain
that the most creative individuals or companies Another hallmark of creativity is being willing to
S will be the most successful in terms of money experiment, and fail. But many people have a fear of
or prestige, it is indisputable that the more inventive the failure, as the result of negative feedback. For example,
individual and the organization, the more fun and inter- if you have brainstorming sessions where your ideas are
esting work – and life – will be. ridiculed or ignored, you are more likely to remain silent
the next time. Such an atmosphere kills the impulse to
Creativity is a natural instinct that all people possess to a innovate.
greater or lesser degree. Why one person is more creative
than another is hard to pinpoint because it is On the other hand, in a more free-flowing
a complex matrix of innate ability, social environment, where ideas are unreservedly
upbringing, environment, health and bandied back and forth, great moments
many other factors. of insight can be achieved. It is
often the case that one person's
But what is easy to understand comment sparks another
is that creativity can be person's insight that, in turn,
nurtured, to the benefit of results in the proverbial
the individual worker and aha! moment. Solutions to
the overall business. It just problems are often found
takes the right mindset this way. But it requires an
and the willingness to open and nonjudgmental
make the effort. environment to flourish.
Room to grow The secret to fostering
such an environment is
Maybe the biggest part to take the negativity out
to unlocking creativity of failure. The way to do
is simply being willing that is to take a scientific
to change. Rigid corporate approach to problem solving.
structures are usually enemies For scientists, failure is
of change and, not surprisingly, expected, even welcomed. How
creativity. But even within the else can they know what works if
most change-averse organizations, they don't know what doesn't work
there is room for inventiveness. first?
It may begin with individuals who choose to Room to seek
engage co-workers rather than smartphones on breaks. Is
it any wonder that among the most enjoyable of human Creativity is the tool used down through the ages to
experiences are simple face-to-face conversations? Don't unlock human potential, and it is available to everyone.
forget that a good conversation is the essence of the When sales pros open their tool boxes, they should know
creative spirit, as it often begins with one topic and ends that inventiveness is in there somewhere. They just have
with an entirely different one, and along the way, the to go in and find it.
conversationalists have a pretty good time.
Or maybe office managers can change up the routine
now and again. Order pizza for the office on the spur of
the moment, or bring in a respected business colleague
to give an informal talk to the crew. Originality can be
spontaneous and still fit within the confines of corporate
structures and professional work environments.
57
