Continuous Creativity

for Agile Teams Roger BrownMark Levison

Agile 2010© 2010 Roger.W.Brown

Why should

you care?

Creativity can be nurtured

Teams can

achieve a

state of

Group

Flow

Knowing how

it works

makes it

easier to

achieve

Your team

can be more

creative

Creativity increases productivity

Group Flow

Group Creativity

How to Nurture it

Where does it come from?

What is Creativity?

What is Creativity?

Would you like to be more creative?

What is holding you back?

Creative people work alone, right?

Creative people are born that way, right?

Percent of People

Creative?Not Creative?

2x

+ 3

y =

zA

nd th

en it h

appen

ed…

What defines a creative idea?

You tell us…

What defines a creative idea?

Novel Relevant Spontaneous

Creativity helps with

Prob

lem

Solv

ing

Refinement of

Product and Process

Invention and Innovation

Have you ever tried

really hard to be creative?

Can creativity be learned?

innovatebrainstorm think!

Mozart coffeeAha!

There are many models for fostering creativity

Contribution to Creativity

InspirationPerspirationLuck

A Neuro-Based Model

AttentionReflectionInsightAction

Exercise

Using a single stroke, turn the Roman numeral seven, shown below, into an eight.

VIIIf you get stuck, ask a partner for help

Exercise

Using a single stroke, turn the Roman numeral 9, shown below, into a 6.

IXIf you get stuck, ask a partner for help

Exercise

Using a single stroke, turn the Roman numeral nine, shown below, into a six.

IXIf you get stuck, ask a partner for help

Where does

creativity come from?

Outdated Sources

Smarties The Muse Genetics School IQ

Fact or Myth?

We use only 10% of our brain.

Logical? Creative?

We use our whole brain, all the time

Shorter branches, fewer dendritic spines, more precise

Longer branches, more dendritic spines, less precise

Brain Basics

Most “Thinking” is Subconcious

Brain Capacity and Speed

WorkingMemo

ry

Long Term Memory

slow real fast

Test Drive

Brain Circuits

Existing Neural Map

1

Existing Neural Map

2

New

Info

Impasse

New Neural Map

What does creativity look like?

© 2006 David Rock

Brain Waves

awareness reflection insight action

Group Creativity

Can a team be creative?

Famous Collaborations

Apollo 13 J.R.R.Tolkien and the Inklings Jobs and Wozniak Lennon and McCartney … and Harrison and Starr

Not-so-famous Collaborations

Morse – Jackson – Gale – Vale Darwin – Lyell – Malthus – Wallace

Exercise – 10 min

Collaborative problem solving

• Choose a partner• Think of a challenge you have at work and write it down in 5 words or less• Read the challenge to your partner. Look for a

feeling of impasse.• Partner asks questions that facilitate reflection and watches facial expressions.• key words: quiet, deep, close, hunch

• Switch roles after 4 minutes.• Class debrief.

Impediments to Creativity

You tell us…

Our Top 5 Impediments to

Creativity

Too much detail in goal Too open-ended a target Command and control Noisy, stressed mind Yes, but…

How to NurtureGroup Creativity

EmotionalSafety

Intrinsic Motivation

• autonomy• mastery• purpose• and a sense of progress

What About Stress?

Arousal

Perf

orm

an

ce

The Group Creativity Toolbox

Align to Common Goal

Prepare

Simple Factors

Be creative!

Be visual

Be physical

Check Assumptions

Make it safe to fail

Quiet Mind

Appropriate Brainstorming

Expand Your Universe

o Engage outsiderso Examine failureso Remove predictability

Many Perspectives

Innovation Games ™ Six Hats Agile Games

Group Flow

Flow

P

Ch

allen

ge

Skill and Confidence

Panic

Anxiety

Boredom

Flow Channel

Agile activities are continuous

Test

Code

Plan

Adapt

Design

Can creativity be continuous?

Group Goal

nasa hq photo

Deep Listening

Complete Concentration

Autonomy

Blending Egos

Equal Participation

Familiarity and Continuity

Forming Storming Norming Performing

Perf

orm

an

ce

Forming

Storming

Norming

Performing

Constant Communication

Moving ForwardYes, and… we can all wear

hats like mine!

Exercise – 15 min

Your turn

• 5 min: Working in pairs, brainstorm 3 ways that you can help your team to become more

creative.

• 5 min: As a group, filter the top 3 most interesting ideas generated at your table.

• 5 min: Debrief

Why should

you care?

Creativity can be nurtured

Teams can

achieve a

state of

Group

Flow

Knowing how

it works

makes it

easier to

achieve

Your team

can be more

creative

Creativity increases productivity

Creativity is a series of many small insights

Emmy Awards2000: Outstanding Writing - Comedy Series - won2001: Outstanding Writing - Comedy Series - won

Writers Guild of America2001: Best Writing - Episodic Comedy - nominated2001: Best Writing - Episodic Comedy - nominated2003: Best Writing - Episodic Comedy - nominated2003: Best Writing - Episodic Comedy - nominated2004: Best Writing - Episodic Comedy - won2005: Best Writing - Episodic Comedy - nominated2006: Best Writing - Episodic Comedy - nominated

The End

Roger Brown , Moonrise Consultingroger@moonriseconsulting.com, @rwbrown

Mark Levison, Agile Pain Relief Consultingmark@agilepainrelief.com, @mlevison