In crowdsourcing, a big challenge is not with coming up with creative ideas, but identifying creative ideas. A bias makes us bad at spotting creative ideas when they come from those working around us.
DAVID GREENE, HOST:
There are times when I've thought about singing during the program or maybe telling a bad joke. I'm getting the feeling this morning that our producer and editor, Rachel Ward and Kenya Young, would shoot me down. You ever have this experience? Pitch what you think is a brilliantly creative idea and your boss or manager says nope. If so, it might be worth listening to Steve Inskeep's conversation with NPR's social science correspondent Shankar Vedantam. Shankar's found some research explaining why good ideas get rejected.
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
Hi, Shankar.
SHANKAR VEDANTAM, BYLINE: Hi, Steve.
INSKEEP: Okay. So what's the research say?
VEDANTAM: Well, the research seems to suggest that part of the reason we miss seeing creative ideas that are right under our nose is because the ideas are right under our nose. There's this new research that looks at how people evaluate creativity. Jennifer Mueller at the University of San Diego and her colleagues, Cheryl Waxslack(ph) and Vishwin Athenkrisnan(ph), find that where the idea comes from appears to influence whether people think it's creative.
So in this experiment they ran, they told volunteers about a new shoe that uses nano technology to reduce blisters. They told some volunteers that this idea was developed far away and they told other volunteers this idea was developed nearby. Here's Mueller.
JENNIFER MUELLER: We found that when we told people the idea was generated far away, they rated the idea as significantly more creative than when the idea was generated nearby.
VEDANTAM: You're kidding me.
MUELLER: No.
VEDANTAM: At a certain level, that doesn't make sense, though, does it?
MUELLER: It really doesn't.
INSKEEP: Okay. So same idea, it's all about the source. We're talking about how a manager, a boss, would evaluate an idea that's brought to them.
VEDANTAM: Exactly. So it seems to happen, Steve, because our minds are prone to mixing these two things up. When things are nearby, they're concrete and you can see the details of the things. On the other hand, when things are far away, they're much more abstract. So thinking about things that are near and far puts us in different mental states. When you think about things nearby, you see the details, and so when a creative idea comes along, the first thing you ask is, can it work?
Now, most creative ideas are risky and the risks are obvious when you look at the details, so when you think about it with this detail-oriented mindset, you're more likely to shoot the idea down. On the other hand, when you're thinking about things that are far away, you're in a more abstract frame of mind and so the first question you ask is not will this work; you're more open to seeing the creative possibilities.
INSKEEP: So it's not just that as a manager, that the manager disrespects the employees. The manager is just familiar with the employees, he or she works with the employees every day, and they're thinking about the details of it. Whereas somebody comes from the outside, they can think big.
VEDANTAM: Exactly. So obviously it has to be said that some ideas are not creative and the deserve to be shot down, but the reason managers often are shooting down ideas that might be creative that come from subordinates is not because they're necessarily bad managers, but they might be in this different mindset. Mueller reminded me of this famous rejection letter that the writer George Orwell got.
Famous publisher said, look, Americans are just not interested in political stories about animals. "Animal Farm," of course, went on to become this classic book. Here's Mueller again.
MUELLER: It's hard to get executives to say creativity is stupid, even though they may actually feel that way and very strongly. Very rarely will CEOs say renovation's horrible, why would we ever do that?
INSKEEP: So wait a minute. I guess then, if I'm an employee trying to sell an idea to my manager, I should call somebody way outside the company, some stranger and tell them the idea, have them walk in the door with it, I gather.
VEDANTAM: Well, that's right. So here's the challenge, Steve. So the people who make decisions in organizations and government, they tend to be the people with the most experience. In fact, that's why those people tend to be in charge. And having that experience is very valuable because it helps you spot these big mistakes.
What this research is suggesting is that the experience also comes at a price. It makes it hard to recognize out of the box possibilities. So Mueller thinks that just before you pitch your boss on a big idea, it might be useful to get them in a more abstract frame of mind. I'm actually going to do what you just suggested.
The next time I come up with a creative idea, I'm going to call it in on the phone and say, I'm calling from Antarctica with this fantastic idea.
INSKEEP: So Shankar, when you told your editor about your idea to do this story, what did she say?
VEDANTAM: I made sure to do it on the phone, Steve.
INSKEEP: Shankar, thanks very much.
VEDANTAM: Thank you, Steve.
INSKEEP: That's NPR's Shankar Vedantam. You can follow him on Twitter @HiddenBrain. You can also follow this program @MorningEdition and @NPRInskeep.
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The road to producing truly meaningful creative work is fraught with obstacles, some of which may feel like they’re out of your control. What if the money runs out, for example? Or the inspiration runs dry? What if the team isn’t cohesive? Or the work being created isn’t the work you feel in your heart? These are all valid concerns that can halt the process of bringing your creative vision to life. But you have to realize one thing: These things are in your control. Every single one of them. And perhaps the biggest obstacle to completing a creative project is the one that is most in your control: the time schedule. Ever heard the phrase, “You can’t rush the process”? Well, it’s true to an extent. A rushed creative process will rarely do the work justice. But people use this phrase all the time as a cop-out for why, after four years, they still haven’t finished that book or screenplay they’re writing. “You can’t rush the process,” they insist. They think they’re giving credit to inspiration, recognizing that it comes when it comes. What they’re really saying, however, is that they lack discipline. They may even lack the passion it takes to finish a strong creative work to begin with.
I’ll say it once, in bold: Every creative process needs a time schedule. At first, people may think it’s frightening to put deadlines on their dreams—but then they realize that if those deadlines don’t exist, it’s likely the dream never will, either. When a team is involved in the creative process, it’s just as crucial that every member feels the importance of this timeline. In the end, slight deviation is probably inevitable. People get sick. They take vacations. But always having those dates to return to will guarantee that everyone works hard toward the goal on a constant basis—and that goal is the building of a dream. Is there anything more worth keeping to a schedule?
Today's culture values packed schedules, speed, efficiency, productivity, crossing things off the list, and working oneself to the bone. Are you tired just from reading that list?
We're told rest is a sign of weakness and slowing down means you don't have it all together.
Jay Shetty knows the opposite is correct. On a recent episode of On Purpose with Jay Shetty, he discussed the pitfalls of the hard and fast lifestyle.
Addicted to Speed
“I really feel that our focus and addiction to speed and doing things instantly is what is creating so many issues in our lives, in our bodies, in our minds, and in our relationships right now,” Jay Shetty said.
Any decent driver knows that not slowing down when navigating curves, speed bumps, or poor road conditions is risky. We don't think twice about taking our foot off the gas when we encounter a challenging road situation.
Jay Shetty wonders why we're slow to do the same when making decisions, planning our days, or cutting back to have a healthier life.
“When you slow down,” Jay Shetty said, “you are actually increasing the longevity and sustainability of your car. None of these times do you see going slower as a weakness, or a weaker mindset. You don't see going slower as less productive, effective, or efficient. But in our lives, in our busy, hectic, overwhelming lives, we see slowing down as a mistake. We see slowing down as a weakness.”
Slow Down For Health and Happiness
While it may take a while to adopt a different mindset, Jay is sure that a slower pace of life leads to happier, healthier, and more productive people.
“Giving yourself space and time can actually lead to the birth of more creativity, better creativity, and some of your best work,” Shetty said. While slowing down for productivity's sake is an excellent goal, Jay warns that there are also more serious reasons at stake. Burnout is a real condition with serious repercussions.
“If we don't choose to intentionally and consciously slow down and stop being in a rush, your body and mind will force you to do it anyway.” Jay Shetty said. “When they force you to do that, it's even worse because now you have to get better again and heal again. You actually end up wasting more time.”
He went on to explain that taking time for ourselves allows us to control, master, and train ourselves to be more effective and productive. When taking this into account, it's hard to deny the benefits of slowing down and refocusing on what is essential.
Practice Makes Perfect
Jay Shetty believes slowing down is one of the most important things a person can do to set themselves up for success in the new year. Learning the art of slowing down takes practice, but mastering it can change your life.
Shetty shared five areas where slowing down improves productivity and overall well-being. These five areas also serve as a good practice ground for stretching slowing down muscles.
Never Rush Decision-Making
“The first thing to never do in a rush and getting ready to slow down in 2020 is making a big decision,” Jay Shetty explained. “You don't want to make big decisions in a rush.”
Decision fatigue is a slippery slope. Our brains get fatigued making small, insignificant decisions over and over all day long. When it comes time to make bigger, more important decisions, the brain can't take on the weight of that decision.
Jay Shetty urged listeners to think about what insignificant decisions they can remove from their daily lives. Some ideas include:
- Planning and prepping meals for the next week
- Eating the same thing for breakfast every day
- Choosing and laying out clothes a week in advance
- Ordering grocery pick-up
- Scheduling chores
These things sound mundane, but that is the point. Taking the guesswork and brain energy out of small decisions preserves energy for more important matters as they arise.
Never Rush Trust
“Trust takes time to build. Like a bridge,” said Jay Shetty. A good reputation is built on trust that develops over time and testing.
Picking up the pieces of a broken relationship is painful and a lot of work. We run the risk of getting hurt and making more work for ourselves in the long run if we trust someone before they have proven themselves trustworthy.
Slowing down and waiting before trusting someone helps strengthen the relationship and build trust over time. It also helps us avoid the potential mess of broken trust.
Never Make Snap Judgements
It would be nice to think we always make a great first impression, but we all know that's not the case. The same is true for others. An off day can cause someone to speak or act differently from their typical character.
Being quick to judge makes it easy to write someone off based on one event or interaction hastily. Jay Shetty cautions that this should be avoided.
“You only saw them in a snapshot,” Shetty said. “So you can't really accurately judge someone's character immediately. We have to be very careful about how we make judgments of someone's character based on a single experience or an event.”
Never Eat in a Rush
“Slow down! The food isn't going anywhere!”
Jay Shetty may sound like your mom here, but both Shetty and your mother have a point. Eating too fast is not healthy for your body, and it's not great for your manners, either.
Slowing down and savoring food promotes conversation and connection at the table. It puts other people at ease, it allows time and space to talk, and it gives your body time to tell you if it's full.
“When you eat slowly, the brain has more time, so therefore you eat fewer calories,” said Jay Shetty. “When you eat quickly, you end up eating more calories because the brain doesn't have time to tell you that you are full.”
More importantly, slowing down the pace of consumption is kinder to your body. Food eaten too quickly doesn't digest well.
Never Rush Close Friendship
Jay Shetty also challenged listeners to evaluate their close friendships.
“Think for a moment about the people in your life that you consider to be close to you. Ask yourself how much quality time you're spending with them.” Jay Shetty encouraged listeners to remember that relationships take time.
“We need to slow down our pace sometimes to give it that time to really be meaningful, to really be powerful, to really be something that's going to last and be of value.” Overall, slowing down and using time wisely can do wonders for health and productivity.
“That's what slowing down is for. It's for sharpening,” Jay Shetty said. “It's not for being lazy. It's not for being complacent. It's for pausing. Your phone needs to recharge every night. Your laptop needs to recharge. Everything needs to recharge. Are you giving yourself space, time and effort to recharge?
Make slowing down a goal as you start 2020, then watch your life change for the better.
Listen to the entire On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast episode on “5 Things To Never Do In a Rush & Slowing Down in 2020” now in the iTunes store or on Spotify. For more inspirational stories and messages like this, check out Jay's website at jayshetty.me.
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