Unlocking Creativity: Dismantling Barriers to New Ideas

Many creative individuals working in organizations today encounter resistance to new ideas, much as the path-breaking artists, scientists, and inventors have experienced throughout history. Experts reject their ideas and defend the status quo. Leaders exhibit closed-minded behavior when newcomers challenge the conventional wisdom or question established practices. On the other hand, senior leaders claim that creativity is a top priority because they desperately seek growth and renewal. Many large firms face a growth crisis today, with revenues increasing slowly or even shrinking. These organizations do not lack talented people with original ideas. They lack an environment in which these people can flourish. Leaders claim to want bold, transformative ideas, yet obstacles to creativity arise at every turn. This book explores the six organizational mindsets that inhibit creativity in many enterprises. These mindsets represent powerful obstacles that must be dismantled for the creative process to thrive. Leaders do not need to generate more great ideas. They must clear the path so that curious thinkers throughout their teams and organizations can experiment, learn, and discover.