A Toolbox for Creativity & Leadership
Recently I had the pleasure to attend an event where Peter Langdal, a Danish theatre director was invited as a guest speaker. In his fun and entertaining presentation Peter talked about a toolbox for creative processes and leadership that I like to summarize for you:
1) HEART
…is a matter of life and death in everything you are doing. Look for triggers of emotions, and feelings and then give them a “massage” so they become fascination and passion. Passion is contagious!
2) WILL
”Wo ein Wille ist, ist auch ein Weg” – “Where There is a Will, There is Always a Way”
… this saying exists in almost all languages across the globe. But be aware that creative and dynamic innovation is caused by opposing and contradictory energies, whereas little energy springs from harmony and consensus, and a culture of clapping each other’s backs.
3) RELATIONSHIP
…is essential. Without relationship and relating to others NOTHING happens. Your ability to relate to others and create powerful relationship is key.
4) LIMITATIONS
Focus on limitations and restrictions, and regard them as friends of yours by using them constructively. You may even invent them yourself.
5) MISTAKES
Innovation often starts with mistakes and errors. Just think of the famous yellow post-it notes. The mistake was glue that did not glue. Coffee spilled on the nice white tablecloth shows it looks much better in brown.
6) MOMENTS
Make sure you experience moments. Life is a series of moments, but seldom we are aware of them, or living them. Open your eyes, be aware. The only thing you have to do in life is to die – everything else is optional.
7) THE MAGIC ”IF”
Put yourself in someone else’s shoes. If you were your boss, or your direct report, or… how would you act? Or if a fairy godmother came by tonight and changed one thing, what would it look like?
8) BREAKING THE ROUTINE
When you get home after work enter your house through the bathroom window and see what happens. And tomorrow: shift your usual morning regime. If you’re usually up at the crack of dawn, try lying in bed for a while, just thinking or with a book. If you are a habitual lie-in-bed, set your alarm for dawn and get up with the birds. Break routine and walk down a road less travelled…
