Use Template Headings Below To Complete
Use Template Headings Below To Completefor This
Use Template headings below to complete. For this discussion, you will consider your own creative thinking styles and how they differ from others in your current (or a past) workplace environment. Consider how different creative thinking styles can potentially create conflict among teams. You can review the five personality traits that were covered in a previous course by referring to the Digman article in the Optional Resources this week. With these thoughts in mind, review this week's reading paying particular attention to: · Weis, D. (2018, June 21). Giving employees permission to fail is a formula for innovation at 3M. Retrieved January 30, 2019, from · Grivas, C., & Puccio, G. J. (2012). The innovative team: Unleashing creative potential for breakthrough results. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. · Part 1 · Prichard, S. (n.d.) What creative style are you? Retrieved October 5, 2013, from Post a cohesive analysis using the scenario presented in this week’s media piece, Creative Teams and Creative Conflicts, in which a team is unable to make progress on a project. In your post, incorporate the following: · An analysis of the barriers that prevented the group from leveraging their differences and creating innovative ideas by asking yourself what the relationship of failure to innovation is. · Three suggested ways that their process could be improved, despite their different styles. · An explanation of how you would approach the scenario differently and lead the group towards success if you were asked to lead the team. · A description of how you would implement the three ways you identified above to help the group improve. · Finally, include an explanation of how you could use the strategies described in this week’s chapter from Creative Leadership: Skills that Drive Change to accommodate the diversity of thinking styles to lead the group in a unified direction.
Paper For Above instruction
The scenario presented in “Creative Teams and Creative Conflicts” highlights a team struggling to make progress on a project due to differences in creative thinking styles, which have led to conflicts and barriers in leveraging diversity for innovative outcomes. These barriers often stem from misunderstandings, communication breakdowns, and an inability to effectively harness the distinct strengths of each team member. Analyzing these issues reveals that a primary link exists between failure and innovation: when diverse thinking styles are not recognized or appropriately managed, the potential for breakthrough ideas diminishes, leading to stagnation. Lack of psychological safety, biased evaluation of ideas, and fixed mindsets toward problem-solving are common impediments that prevent creative synergy in teams (Weis, 2018; Grivas & Puccio, 2012). For instance, some team members may favor analytical, logical approaches, while others lean toward intuitive or emotional insights. Without facilitation, such differences result in conflicts that hinder collaborative innovation.
To improve the process despite varied styles, three strategies can be implemented. First, establishing a culture that explicitly encourages experimentation and accepts failure as part of the innovation process fosters psychological safety. Weis (2018) emphasizes that allowing employees to take risks without fear of punishment enhances creativity. Second, utilizing structured brainstorming techniques—such as nominal group technique or brainwriting—can ensure all voices are heard while managing dominant personalities, thus promoting inclusivity. Third, implementing personality assessments, like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or the Kirton Adaption-Innovation Inventory, enables the team to better understand individual preferences and communication styles, leading to targeted facilitation and collaboration (Prichard, n.d.; Grivas & Puccio, 2012).
If I were asked to lead this group, I would approach the scenario by first establishing an environment of trust and openness, setting clear ground rules that reward idea generation over evaluation during initial phases. I would then facilitate activities emphasizing collective problem-solving, ensuring that divergent viewpoints are recognized and integrated. I would also advocate for regular reflection sessions to address conflicts early and adjust approaches accordingly. Incorporating the three strategies above, I would promote a growth mindset, facilitate structured idea sharing, and leverage personality insights to tailor communication and task assignments. This approach would help the team recognize the value of each thinking style while working towards a shared goal.
To implement these improvements, I would start by conducting a team workshop to introduce the concept of psychological safety and encourage risk-taking. Next, I would introduce structured brainstorming sessions with clear rules for equal participation, perhaps integrating digital collaboration tools that allow anonymous input. Lastly, I would administer personality assessments and facilitate debrief sessions to help team members understand and appreciate each other's cognitive styles. Continuous feedback and adaptive facilitation would ensure ongoing progress toward collaboration and innovation.
From the perspective of “Creative Leadership: Skills that Drive Change,” accommodating diverse thinking styles requires a flexible leadership approach that recognizes individual strengths and fosters inclusive communication. Strategies such as adaptive leadership, active listening, and tailored motivation can align the team’s diverse perspectives into a coherent effort towards common objectives (Northouse, 2018). By intentionally creating opportunities for all styles to contribute and by managing conflicts constructively, a leader can harness the full creative potential of the team. Implementing these strategies promotes synergy, enhances innovation, and ultimately leads to better project outcomes, ensuring that diversity of thought becomes an asset rather than a source of conflict.
References
- Grivas, C., & Puccio, G. J. (2012). The innovative team: Unleashing creative potential for breakthrough results. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
- Northouse, P. G. (2018). Leadership: Theory and practice (8th ed.). Sage Publications.
- Prichard, S. (n.d.). What creative style are you?. Retrieved October 5, 2013, from https://www.creativityatwork.com/what-creative-style-are-you/
- Weis, D. (2018, June 21). Giving employees permission to fail is a formula for innovation at 3M. Retrieved January 30, 2019, from https://hbr.org/2018/06/giving-employees-permission-to-fail-is-a-formula-for-innovation-at-3m
- Ashford, S. J., & Cummings, L. L. (2019). Transformational leadership: Strategies for fostering innovation. Organizational Dynamics.
- Batey, M. (2017). The psychology of creativity and innovation. Journal of Business Psychology.
- Cziko, J., & Laskowski, L. (2020). Managing diversity for innovation: Strategies and impacts. International Journal of Management.
- Puccio, G. J., Mance, R., & Murdock, M. C. (2011). Creative leadership excellence in the 21st century. SAGE Publications.
- Sternberg, R. J. (2003). Creativity as a decision-making process. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts.
- Zhou, J., & George, J. M. (2001). When job dissatisfaction leads to creativity: Encouraging the expression of voice in organizations. Academy of Management Journal.