Unleashing Your Creative Confidence

A recent Linkedin post about creativity sparked my brain to go back to when I first started my Innovation Management journey in 2017. I read a lot of books back then to educate myself about innovation, creativity, and how to build a culture of innovation in an organisation. I had a big job ahead of me as the new Chief Innovation Officer in a Local Government, to inspire others to be innovative or at the least create some confidence in their ability to be creative in the workplace.

In the realm of innovation David Kelley stands as a beacon of inspiration, a testament to the boundless potential that lies within each of us. His renowned TED Talk, ‘How to Build Your Creative Confidence’ has captivated millions, offering a profound message that creativity is not reserved for a select few but is an inherent part of our human nature. Alongside his brother Tom, David has further delved into this concept in their book, "Creative Confidence," providing a roadmap for those working in the innovation space, on how to unleash our innate creative potential.

Kelley's TED Talk is a powerful reminder that we are all born with an innate capacity for creativity, often suppressed by societal norms and self-doubt.

He asserts that creativity is not about being an artist or musician but about being curious, open-minded, and willing to embrace the process of learning and exploration. Through personal reflections, Kelley encourages us to reclaim our creative birthright and rediscover the joy of experimentation and innovation.

In their book, the Kelley brothers expand on this message, offering practical strategies and insights for cultivating creative confidence in ourselves and others. They emphasise the importance of empathy, observation, and collaboration, highlighting the need to understand human needs and desires before seeking solutions. They also stress the value of embracing failure as an integral part of the creative process, viewing setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning. Something I think we all still struggle to deal with as no one ever really wants to fail, especially in a work environment.

The impact of Kelley's work is evident in the rise of design thinking, a human-centered approach to problem-solving that emphasizes empathy, collaboration, and prototyping. Design thinking has transformed organisations, enabling them to develop products and services that are not only innovative but also deeply attuned to the needs of their users.

The principles espoused by David Kelley are not merely theoretical concepts; they have been successfully implemented in countless real-world scenarios. For instance, IDEO, the design firm co-founded by David Kelley, has utilised design thinking to develop groundbreaking innovations, from the first mouse for Apple computers to the ATM machine.

The 1999 ABC's Nightline episode of the IDEO team redesigning the Shopping Cart where they demonstrated the innovation process for creating a new shopping cart concept, considering issues such as manoeuvrability, shopping behavior, child safety, and maintenance cost is a must watch video for anyone trying to explain how design thinking works.

The episode was a critical and commercial success, and it is considered to be one of the most influential examples of design thinking ever produced. I personally have shown it multiple times in my Innovation Masterclasses as it shows how easy it is to be creative if you have a good innovation process. I am sure some parts will make you laugh and appreciate how important creativity is.

Some of the key takeaways from the episode:

• Empathy is essential for design thinking. Designers must be able to understand the needs and desires of their users in order to create successful products.
• Collaboration is important for innovation. Designers should work with other experts, such as engineers, technology specialists and marketers, to develop and implement new ideas.
• Prototyping is essential for testing and refinement. Designers should create prototypes of their ideas and test them with users to get feedback before investing in full-scale production.

David Kelley's work around creative confidence serves as a powerful reminder of our inherent potential to shape our lives and the world around us. By embracing creativity, we can approach challenges with fresh perspectives, generate novel ideas, and contribute meaningfully to a more innovative and human-centered future.

References

Kelley, D. (2012). How to build your creative confidence. [Video]. TED Talks.

Kelley, D., & Kelley, T. (2013). Creative confidence: How fearless leaders inspire creativity, change the world, and build extraordinary careers. Crown Business.

Nightline (ABC News). (1999). IDEO Shopping Cart [Video]. Production Company: ABC News.