Copy of Creative Style Walk Through

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1. The Setup (3 Min)

1. Before we start working on our team creativity, let’s get a little deeper into our own personal creative style.

2. We are going to ask you seven questions. For each question you will need to make a choice between two options. You’ll keep track of your answers on your fingers (or on a piece of paper if you prefer).
As you think about your approach to puzzling situations, WHEN YOU ARE GIVEN A CHOICE>>>how do you PREFER to find solutions?

2. Administer the 7 Questions (5 min)

[Read each question one by one.
The number of the question is in the top left corner of the slide.
Emphasize that they are selecting their PREFERENCE WHEN THEY HAVE A CHOICE.

For each question they must choose one.

If you are using fingers, each time you go to the next question let them know how many fingers total they should have raised.

3. Score the Test and Get in Line (3 min)

Have them get in line based on their high scores.

4. Overview of In and Out of the BOX Creativity Styles (5 min)

Playfully share the difference between out of the box and in the box creativity.

Emphasize that BOTH styles are creative.

Some people think “out of the box” = creative and “In the box” = not creative… but in reality they are both necessary aspects of creativity.

5. Team Building Activity (15 min)

5.a Setup the Activity

15. Count them off into groups of 3-5 people starting with in the box creatives to out of the box creatives. You should have teams that are mixed in terms of their creative styles.

16. Tell them we are going to a team building exercise and these are the teams you will be playing with.

17. Instruct them to take THREE out of the B❒X photos with The B❒X on your head IN FIVE MINUTES.
I often add the constraint that they need to leave the room if that is an option.

5.b Debrief the Activity

18. Pay attention to when groups arrive. Did they arrive on time (within the 5 minute time limit).
Let the teams that came in after the time limit know that they are disqualified as they did not meet the basic requirement of the challenge.
For teams that returned on time (in the box creativity) AND had three good photos, ask them how they accomplished this… who were the people that kept them moving.
19. Let them know that leadership is not connected to one style or the other, and that any style can be a successful leader.

6. Challenge: I have my Preferred Creative Approach

20-21: Our creative preference can impact my ability to think out of the box.

22. When working with people of other creative styles there are some things we observe as positive.

23. When working with people of other creative styles there are some things we observe in them that we see as negative.

24. What happens when we change the chemistry of a team?

25. All out of the box: a lot of ideas and no consesus. No clear presentation (people will just improvise it). Often there are multiple ideas, but no action.

Agree to disagree.

Conflict with no resolution.

Final output is creative, but no clear next steps or budget considerations, and may not have any agreement or alignment for what the recommendation actually is.

26 All in the box: a well designed way to provide incremental improvement. Delivered on time, on budget. An easy “yes” but nothing ground breaking.

Strong consensus

A rational plan

Incremental improvement with a high chance of completion on budget and on time.

27. Mixed group: 40% a great presentation for a well thought out and innovative idea that has high potential to make a big difference.

60% the group falls apart or just one (in the box creative) person puts together a presentation based on some conversations.

What makes the difference between great success and total failure is whether the team has a person or people who are willing to play the role of THE BRIDGE.

7. Breakthrough Strategy: Be the Bridge

28. To breakthrough this challenge…

29. you will need to learn how to BE THE BRIDGE
Being the bridge is a choice not a personality type.
Any person can play the role of the bridge.

30. Here are some descriptors of THE BRIDGE.
NOTE: You can get more background for this in the Facilitator Materials and the optional handout.

31. The easiest way to play the role of The Bridge is to follow a creative or facilitative process.

32. Remember, it is not enough to just think out of the BOX, you must also think into a better box. The BRIDGE is the person that ensures that both are happening in a way that the whole team can benefit from.