Spark 19 – How to think more strategically: Adaptive Creativity: Example

To implement this Spark in strategic thinking, I tend to broadly follow these steps. Having said this, what you will find below are not so much rigid steps as ingredients or mindsets to prepare you. You will probably also see the steps as a blend of creative thinking, scenario development and continuous review:

1.Deploy your petri dish: Set up conditions for this Spark to thrive. These conditions include:

a. A curious mindset: Encourage constant curiosity. This involves asking questions, exploring new ideas and staying open to different perspectives.

b. A diverse pool of experiences and knowledge: Actively seek experiences and knowledge outside of the usual scope of thinking in this matter or problem. This could mean exploring different industries, cultures or academic fields to broaden the thinking horizon.

c. An experimentation-welcoming environment: Foster an environment where creative experimentation is valued. This includes trying out new approaches and being open to unconventional solutions.

d. A ‘Failure rocks’ mindset: Embrace failures as learning opportunities. Analyse what didn’t work and why, using these insights to inform future creative endeavours.

e. Regular brainstorming sessions: Conduct regular brainstorming sessions with the team, encouraging the free flow of ideas without immediate judgement or criticism.

f. Being well-informed on trends: Keep abreast of emerging trends and patterns within your sector and beyond, using this information to inspire adaptive creative strategies.

2. Reflect and adapt: As this Spark is about adaptation, it is inherently reactive or responsive to actual or forecast change. You need a way to be alerted of impending change (refer to When to use this Spark). Regularly reflect on the outcomes of creative strategies and be prepared to adapt them based on feedback and changing circumstances.

3. Go back to basics: When your trigger (Step 2) is flicked, ask why the existing thinking would still hold and be willing to go the whiteboard.

4. Know what you need to win: Reset your success criteria and re-engage your thinking about how to make this happen.

5. Invent and innovate: Get into the fun bit of creativity. Invent totally new thinking or innovate existing thinking.

6. Stress-test against known evidence and experience.

By implementing these quasi steps, adaptive creativity becomes a key component of my strategic thinking process, enabling more dynamic, innovative and responsive strategy development.

How to think more strategically: develop this muscle

Here are some ways to develop this muscle:

• Design thinking workshops: Engaging in hands-on design thinking workshops can give you an immersive experience in adaptive creativity. These workshops teach you how to approach problems from various angles and develop iterative solutions, equipping you to be both creative and adaptable. Several global firms offer remote workshops, so geography is no barrier.

• Neuroscience courses: Understanding the brain’s role in creativity can significantly amplify your ability to think adaptively. Online platforms offer neuroscience courses focused on creativity. These courses delve into the psychological and biological mechanisms behind creative thinking, offering insights you can apply in a strategic setting.

• Cross-disciplinary training: Consider taking courses or attending seminars that are outside your field but still related to decision-making and strategy. This could include anything from economics to behavioural psychology. The idea is to diversify your thinking patterns, which will make you more adaptable and creative in your strategic approaches.

• AI and data analytics tools: Get comfortable using advanced data analytics and AI tools that can assist in decision-making. These tools can take creative strategies and adapt them in real-time based on incoming data, effectively training you to think more adaptively. Platforms like Coursera and Udacity offer courses in data science and AI tailored for business decision-making.

• Gamification techniques: Learning through gaming isn’t just for kids. Several apps use gamification to teach complex subjects, including strategic thinking and problem-solving. Apps like Lumosity or even strategy games like Civilisation can help sharpen your adaptive creativity skills in an engaging way.

• Peer learning groups: Join or form a peer learning group focused on adaptive creativity. Such groups can be either online or in-person and allow for a diversified form of learning. Members can share resources, offer feedback on real-world projects, and even collaborate on experimental approaches to problems. Platforms like Meetup or even LinkedIn can help you find or initiate such groups.

Dedicated focus on these six modern methods can exponentially elevate your ability to think creatively yet adaptively, thereby honing your strategic prowess to cutting-edge levels. Whether it’s absorbing the cerebral intricacies behind creativity or playing a strategy game, your route to mastering adaptive creativity is a multifaceted journey worth embarking on.