Why aren't Indians Creative?
A few weeks ago I ran a workshop on Creativity & Innovation for a leading software MNC. The objective was to help employees get 'more innovative' because that's what clients want. Then a curious thing happened...
I did some 'warm up' exercises with the team and they did well. In a short while the energy in the room was white hot. Then we got into the challenges of the participants faced in their own environment. Suddenly the creative method they had so easily learnt in the exercise was meeting with mixed results!
One member ruefully admitted: 'Its funny how when we look at our own work, it gets so hard!'. So what makes it hard? A prior history of attempting to do things and running smack into the 'culture wall'.
Take a look at how one company does it very differently. They give out a "coupon book of errors" to new employees. Every time you made a mistake you'd have to rip off a coupon and that was that. New employees did not have to put up with sarcasm and put-me-downs. New employees would carefully use the coupon book. The big question? What happens when if you finish your coupon book? You get another one! Ah, living a Vida Loca!
Sure companies want creativity. They want new innovative ideas. But when an idea - even a small one - does not work out guess what happens? The rebuke is delivered with a sting, a knowing smile and a shake of the head. Others watching the drama learn quickly that it does not pay to do something different here. They'll just do it somewhere else. That's how culture gets built.
Is Indian culture so risk averse? Is that why despite being pretty sharp, we have few great ideas coming out of here?What do you think?
A few weeks ago I ran a workshop on Creativity & Innovation for a leading software MNC. The objective was to help employees get 'more innovative' because that's what clients want. Then a curious thing happened...
I did some 'warm up' exercises with the team and they did well. In a short while the energy in the room was white hot. Then we got into the challenges of the participants faced in their own environment. Suddenly the creative method they had so easily learnt in the exercise was meeting with mixed results!
One member ruefully admitted: 'Its funny how when we look at our own work, it gets so hard!'. So what makes it hard? A prior history of attempting to do things and running smack into the 'culture wall'.
Take a look at how one company does it very differently. They give out a "coupon book of errors" to new employees. Every time you made a mistake you'd have to rip off a coupon and that was that. New employees did not have to put up with sarcasm and put-me-downs. New employees would carefully use the coupon book. The big question? What happens when if you finish your coupon book? You get another one! Ah, living a Vida Loca!
Sure companies want creativity. They want new innovative ideas. But when an idea - even a small one - does not work out guess what happens? The rebuke is delivered with a sting, a knowing smile and a shake of the head. Others watching the drama learn quickly that it does not pay to do something different here. They'll just do it somewhere else. That's how culture gets built.
Is Indian culture so risk averse? Is that why despite being pretty sharp, we have few great ideas coming out of here?What do you think?
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