Give ideas a soft place to land

Here's the story

As an undergraduate student Marci asked her anthropology professor Dr. Jill Nash, how she would define creativity. Here's how the conversation went.

"Dr. Nash, as a cultural anthropologist, how would you define creativity?" Marci asked.
Dr. Nash took a look at Marci with a thoughtful eye, placed her hand on her hip and replied.
"Marci, creativity is bad manners."
"What?"
"Think of it this way. Imagine you do something creative at the dinner table. What happens? You get your hand slapped. That's what creativity is - bad manners."

That took place in 1979. Has much changed since then? Perhaps an openness to creative thinking has emerged yet, even though Marci works with organizations all over the world she continues to see how, when people do their best to apply their creativity in their workplace, their hands often get slapped (metaphorically of course).

Here's the punchline/application

Ideas are personal. When they are criticized, there's an effect. People who are asked to give new ideas need to be assured that they won't be hit with a flyswatter for offering them up. To engage people in using their creative thinking and to contribute new ideas, imagination and new decisions gladly, systems, behaviours and tools can be used that show ideas are welcome and valuable.

Here's the ptich

To learn more about the techniques involved, engage Marci online or in person to show you the research, tools and methods you can use to make creative thinking an asset for your innovation.