“Creativity is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected.” William Plomer (African born English Writer, 1903-1973)
A Code?...... A Secret?, Maybe not, but my guess is that creativity does have a reasonable explanation, one that will hold the “power to connect the seemingly unconnected”, in a big way, with profound implications. Where is this explanation going to come from, who is going to provide it? The above quote by William Polmer will to some extent help answer this.
The answer will flow from a collaborative merger of sound, verifiable, evidence based knowledge and insight from many sources coming together to connect the seemingly unconnected.
Who are they?
Neuroscience. With the help of ever more sophisticated technology scientists are now able to observe the working brain in real time, allowing them to clearly observe the brain in action. There is much greater understanding now about how the brain learns, stores and processes knowledge, how separate areas, with separate functions coordinate in the sharing of information that allows us to function, play a musical instrument, pilot an aircraft or remember how to cook your favourite meal.
The Arts. The majority of accomplished artists may never bother to reflect deeply on the why’s, what’s or how’s of creativity, they just get on with it. They live it, breath it and their lives in the main is an expression of creative mastery. Then there are those that do all of this and are curious, want to know how it works, especially those whose careers have evolved in the direction of mentoring, nurturing and teaching the next generation of creative’s. Through their work, a great number of mentors / teachers have gained significant insight and expertise into the creative evolution of their students, what works for them, how to reveal the individuals unique zone of highest creative potential and expression. In short there are many in the arts world that holds insights and answers relevant to the bigger picture of social, cultural and economic positive change.
Education. Like the arts world there are educators at all levels within the system that don’t just do the job of teaching as prescribed. Some do ask questions and reflect on the nature of what they do, why and how in a way that goes beyond and deeper than the transferring of information from one head to another.
The student is much more than a potential accountant, IT technician, doctor, bricklayer, product developer, there is a whole person sitting at their desk with a whole life to express and develop. Many teachers have hands on real life experience of the positive benefits of educating and nurturing the development of students. Their contribution to positive change, their on the job expertise is a valuable link in the chain.
Business and enterprise development.
Wow....this sector sure does have its experts in understanding and developing human creative potential, it also has some serious non-experts.
In the interconnected, co-dependent ecosystem of local and global business, the ecosystem is suffering from contamination and pollution, of the mind variety. Just like the natural world, isolated infringements on the welfare of individual components of the ecosystem will eventually reach a tipping point and threaten the whole system, is this not what we are living right now in our ecosystem of human relations and activity.
The good news that there is an abundance of entrepreneurs and business leaders that have an indebt awareness and understanding of what is good for them and good for you too, ecofriendly mindfulness if you will. They also have a track record of tried and tested expertise just ripe for sharing as we connect the seemingly unconnected.
The list of well informed potential collaborators could go on and on. Connecting the dots will be a natural evolution; the greater explanation of creativity will be born out of the necessity for a collective response to address the global stalemate we are now in. There are many people in key positions of power and influence, some of whom don’t make change easy, vested interests or a stubborn attachment to the status quo. For whatever reason, like the sick patient who just can’t shake off the ailment they will eventually have to consult with, listen to their doctor’s advice and try the medicine. We all know creativity has many good side-effects beyond any particular creative task.
A thought!
The natural world apart from Homo sapiens may contain within it a useful template to aid in the understanding and application of creative processes.
Networking is a seamless extended matrix that supports the system. How do we do it, if I Just look locally there are numerous independent business networks that operate in isolation not naturally reflective of their role as common elements of the whole community they share and depend on.
Sustainability. Predators may eat those below them in the food chain, what they are not aiming for is to wipe out their source of food. This is just what some big corporations, banking cartels and some political interests have done, over feed on the food chain to the determent of the whole chain.
Power and Leadership. The ego doesn’t enter the frame for the dominant male lion, the position is only held if he is capable of holding it. The objective is not to wield power of the pride for the sake of it but his power instils courage, cohesion and confidence in the whole pride, a mutually beneficial arrangement, and right lion in the right role for the right reason. Now how often in our superior intelligent human world do we exercise the natural wisdom of placing the right people in the right leadership roles based on their natural ability to fulfil the roles objectives?
Innovation / adaptability. The animal kingdom has no control over changes that may occur in their environment, yet they have the ability to withstand even the harshest changes in conditions. We have the distinct privilege of being able to create the business and economic environment that we live in. It can be tracked, mapped, manipulated, expanded and contracted. Perfection is a big asks, but some connecting the dots on the seemingly unconnected may help harmonise the climate for everyone.
A unifying theory of creativity would be sweet. Right now, to address our current needs a good explanation, coming from the people and sectors that have embraced creativity as a core value and their actions and works to prove its worth.