Creativity is result of teamwork, not genius
May 14, 1995
In October 1991, E. M. Flanigen won America's top honor in chemistry, the Perkin Medal. The notice said to wear tails and a bow tie to the awards dinner.
Flanigen, the holder of 92 patents, took it in stride. She was already listed in "American Men in Science."
Many women feel that creativity - other than in the performing or fine arts - rests in the domain of men. After all, most business icons - The Bill Gateses and the Thomas Edisons - have been made male.
But what Edith M. Flanigen understood and most women need to understand is that creativity comes more from leading a team of bright, talented and engaged individuals than it does from solo acts of genius.
Flanigen, whose laboratory team at Union Carbide Corp. has discovered more than 200 compounds that may improve everything from oil refining to petrochemical processing, begins the creative process by brainstorming with her research team members, consolidating the group's ideas into a range of options and having the team vote on which ones to pursue.
In her words, voting is "a critical strategy in getting the total commitment of everyone."
Research has shown that highly creative organizations or teams share the following characteristics:
- Clear individual and team goals and objectives.
- A means for being continually updated on industry and technological developments.
- The free flow of information in every direction, not just from top to bottom.
- The belief that team members have the intelligence and experience to succeed.
- An attitude that looks for ways to improve things, even when no problem has been identified.
- Strong support for each other's ideas and successes.
- The sense that being innovative is one of the best ways to achieve recognition.
- The view that change is exciting rather than threatening.
- The belief that credit usually goes to the right people.
- The belief that employees who speak the truth, no matter how unattractive it may be, will be listened to and treated with respect.
- The view that failures are learning opportunities.
- The belief that it is OK to be a little different.
- A sense that emotions are a natural part of being engaged in worthwhile tasks.
- Optimism - the belief that things usually work out well.
- Fun. Yes, they have fun at work.
Stop trying to turn yourself into a creative genius, and focus instead on building a team with these characteristics. And then go dust off your bow tie and tails.
Cowan-Gascoigne is founder and president of The Leadership Co., a Cleveland consulting firm. She was formerly an executive at the Cleveland Clinic and a consultant with McKinsey & Co.
This article was originally published in the Women's Work column in the Business section of The Plain Dealer on Sunday, May 14, 1995.