Do We Really Want Creative Solutions?
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011
While we constantly call for new ideas and creative approaches to persistent problems we dislike the uncertainty. We dislike the uncertainty we feel about our ability to come up with a creative idea (especially in a group) and we dislike the uncertainty associated with trying to act on a creative idea. According to new research reported in Association for Psychological Science, this uncertainty may be so strong it signals a hidden bias against creativity.
I have seen this bias in action for many years. From a cognitive design standpoint, we need to ask if there are better ways for organizations to manage the psychology of creativity as it relates to uncertainty. How can we maintain expansive thinking and action even in the face of risk? Trying to artificially reduce uncertainty by saying such things as “we tolerate failure” does not appear to address the need.
