As we have all now settled back into the routine of work after the excitement of the winter holidays, it’s time to focus on generating new ideas and trying out new ways of doing things. This month’s selection of TED talks focuses on creativity – we hope you find these suitably inspiring!
Julie Burstein: 4 lessons in creativity
Julie Burstein, a USA radio hosts, provides viewers with her take on creativity, imparting her four lessons on the subject. She speaks about needing to accept what you can control, and letting go of what you cannot – you never know where it might take you. Burstein explains that creativity grows out of everyday experiences – much more than we may think. She encourages people to pay attention to the world around them, and embrace their numerous life experiences – particularly those that are difficult, challenging or limiting. Indeed, the aspects of life that prove to be the most difficult can facilitate your best works.
David Kelley: How to build your creative confidence
David Kelley, founder of design firm IDEO, argues that creativity is not the domain of only a chosen few people. So often people say that they aren’t the “creative type”, but Kelley disagrees with this statement – he says that everybody has the potential to create. Most of the time all that’s holding people back is a lack of self confidence and fear of judgement. Once this hurdle is overcome, people can end up doing amazing things, and ultimately surprising themselves and revealing the scope of their innovation.
Steven Johnson: Where good ideas come from
Author and speaker Steven Johnson examines the environments that lead to innovation and creativity, on a quest to discover exactly where good ideas come from. To do this, he believes we need to do away with conventional concepts of idea creation. In Johnson’s opinion, an idea is not a single thing; it does not occur in a sole illuminating moment. Johnson argues that ideas exist as a kind of network on the most elemental level, which can be cobbled together with other idea fragments to create something entirely new. Johnson also believes that ideas fade into existence over time, and thus we need to create more work spaces that foster long term incubation periods and hunch cultivation, allowing people to connect, share and develop their ideas with others.
Elizabeth Gilbert: Your elusive creative genius
In a humorous, thought-provoking speech, author Elizabeth Gilbert explores the pressures that we place on creative people to achieve and generate work. Those working in creative industries are often asked, “But aren’t you afraid of failure?” This particular question doesn’t seem to be asked of people in other industries, such as finance and engineering, for example. Gilbert also rallies against the idea of calling people “geniuses”, which often places them under a great amount of pressure. Rather, she thinks that we all “have” a genius, which can be nurtured and explored, and ultimately lead us to create wonderful works.