Team Work and CreativityTeam Work and Creativity
Why work in a team? I can do it better myself.
Things Researchers and Other Things Researchers and Other Smart People Know about Working Smart People Know about Working
in Teamsin Teams
The Ability to work in Teams is one of the Top Five Skills that Employers look for in hiring and promoting
Companies that utilize teams in development of products, etc. benefit greatly because…..
Teams bring a diversity of skills Teams bring a diversity of skills and perspectives to bear on any and perspectives to bear on any
given problem.given problem.
Things Researchers and Other Things Researchers and Other Smart People Know about CreativitySmart People Know about Creativity
People who critically and creatively think are more likely to be successful in school
People who critically and creatively think are more likely to be successful in work settings
People who think creatively are more likely to describe their lives as fulfilling and satisfying
Working with OthersWorking with Others
Task Processes: Specific interactions that focus on the job at hand
Transactional Processes: interactions that carry communication about:– individuals
– the team
– the task processes
Without transactional processes, we can’t do the task processes
What makes a team?What makes a team?
Work group: Relies primarily on the individual contribution of its members for group performance
Team: Strives for a magnified impact that is incremental to what its members could achieve in their individual roles
DefinitionDefinition
A team is a diverse group of people who share leadership responsibility for creating a
group identity in an interconnected effort to achieve a mutually defined goal within the
context of other groups and systems.
DiverseDiverse
Specific and Different Resources and Abilities are
Needed
Shared LeadershipShared Leadership
Because of the diversity and the specificity of the task, every member must guide the team whether there is a
designated leader or not
A Created IdentifyA Created Identify
A team self-image that becomes a cohesive and motivating force
Interconnected EffortsInterconnected Efforts
Efforts constantly weave and coordinate the contributions of
each member
Mutually defined goalMutually defined goal
Communicate intensely to develop goals and ways to achieve them
ContextContext
Work is affected by the context, the environment, and the system
within which it works.
The Creative ProcessThe Creative Process
As Described by Roger von Oech
The Different Types of Creative The Different Types of Creative ThinkingThinking
Explorer Artist Judge Warrior
ExplorerExplorer
Provides the Raw Materials from which new ideas are made
facts concepts experiences knowledge feelings etc.
ExplorerExplorer Dares to go where no one has gone before
– Using only safe routes is not exploration Need to look in uncharted territory Need to wander how it all fits in Need to feel a little lost Need to pay attention to unusual
patterns Need to Use different senses
When have you been an explorer?When have you been an explorer?
ArtistArtist
Takes the raw material and makes something new from it
experiment with variety of approaches
Ask “what if” questions
Break the rules or create new ones
When have you been an When have you been an artist?artist?
JudgeJudge
Ideas are great, but decisions have to be made!
Is this idea good? Is it worth pursuing Will it give me the return I want? Do I have the resources to make it happen?
JudgeJudge
Evaluate and critically weigh the evidence
Look for drawbacks Wonder if it will work Question your
assumptions Listen to your gut Make a Decision!
When have you been a When have you been a Judge?Judge?
WarriorWarrior
Implement your Idea! Take the Idea into
Action! Be offensive!
WarriorWarrior
Need to develop a strategy
Be flexible enough to change it
Commit yourself to reaching your objective
WarriorWarrior
Overcome excuses idea killers temporary setbacks other obstacles Need to have the
courage to do what is necessary
When have you been a When have you been a Warrior?Warrior?
ReviewReview Your Explorer is your role for searching
for new information and resources; Your Artist is your role for turning those
resources into new ideas; Your Judge is your role for evaluating the
merits of an idea and deciding what to do with it; and
Your Warrior is your role for carrying your idea into action.
Creative ProcessCreative Process
Linear Progression??– Likely you will use Explorer role in earlier
stages, – Artist and Judge in the middle stage– Warrior in the later stages
But, there should be a fair amount of shifting around
Two Main Reasons for FailureTwo Main Reasons for Failure
Weak RolesBad Timing
1 1 3
Use It or Lose ItUse It or Lose It
You have to make a deliberate effort to get and keep all of your creative
roles
Timing is EverythingTiming is Everything
Knowing when to use your roles is vitally important to your success.
For example: Using your judge when you need to explore Using your artist to implement your idea
Need to Shift to Roles when it is Necessary
Getting Stuck in a RoleGetting Stuck in a Role Explorer: Never get around to making sense
of ideas Artist: Spend all your time working and re-
working your creation & not letting go Judge: Inhibit your artist and spend so much
time evaluating that you never make a decision
Warrior: Rush into action whether you are ready or not
Team Work and CreativityTeam Work and Creativity
Questions….Questions….
Describe the Role(s) in the Creative Process that you Feel Most Comfortable With.
Describe the Role(s) that is Most Unfamiliar and Uncomfortable for you.
Questions...Questions...
How could Utilizing a Team be Useful in the Creative Process?
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