The Actual Truth About Creativity and Innovation May Not Be What You Think

Given the choice between the myth of the natural genius and the sobering reality of hard work, popular culture usually opts for the myth.  ---BD Burrell

When you’re getting advice about creativity or reading one of the many books about the subject, you need to be careful—very careful—because many, if not most, perpetuate our highly Western, misleading and individualist cultural ways. That typically means that we’re going to have to go digging into our own mindset and belief system to deconstruct and reframe these wrongheaded beliefs if we want to really understand creativity and innovation.

To be blunt, having been in a professional position that required creativity on a regular basis, by that I mean weekly, I’ve always thought that creativity is one of those terms and experiences that is often quite different than what many think about the subject. So, I was delighted to read the work of a well-respected writer on creativity, collaboration and learning, who not only agreed with me fully—but took my ideas even further, explaining the myths of creativity.

In his marvelous book, Explaining Creativity, Keith Sawyer describes four key errors and summarizes their problems—all very useful for today’s organizational emphasis on innovation. His insights will liberate you from demanding, painful, unrealistic expectations. Admittedly, however, the truth will give you heartburn as well as a lot of often painful, hard work changing a deeply held mindset..