When Sparks Fly: Igniting Creativity in Groups

Dorothy Leonard & Walter Swap

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Where do the best creative ideas come from? Most managers assume that gifted individuals readily identifiable "creative types" offer the quickest route to out-of-the-box, breakthrough thinking, and if you don't have an eccentric genius on your team, your group is doomed to mediocrity. Yet, say Dorothy Leonard and Walter Swap. most innovations today spring from well-led group interactions. In "When Sparks Fly, " the authors sweep aside the conventional thinking about creativity to reveal that any group if designed and managed effectively can produce more innovative services, products, and processes. Unlike most books on creativity, "When Sparks Fly" focuses on the process as it applies to groups of people who may not fit the stereotype of right-brained "creatives." Leonard and Swap offer managers proven strategies for generating the group dynamics that lie at the heart of innovative thinking, including specific techniques for re-channeling the tensions of conflicting points of view into new ideas and alternative options. They show how forward-looking companies such as Fisher Price, Intel, and Hewlett-Packard use group situations to maximize their creative potential."When Sparks Fly" explores how all aspects of the work environment, from leadership style to the use of space, sound, even smell, can enhance innovation. It will help managers motivate and lead groups of people in ways that ignite their full creative potential.

What will you learn from this book

  1. Creativity through Collaboration: The book likely emphasizes the power of collaboration in sparking creativity and innovation, showing how diverse perspectives and ideas can lead to breakthroughs.

  2. Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of knowledge, experiences, and ideas among individuals or teams to foster a culture of innovation within organizations.

  3. Cross-Pollination of Ideas: Highlighting the importance of bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds or disciplines to encourage the exchange of ideas and generate new insights.

  4. Building a Creative Environment: Exploring strategies for creating an environment that encourages and nurtures creativity, where individuals feel comfortable sharing unconventional ideas.

  5. Effective Communication: Emphasizing the role of effective communication in collaborative settings to ensure ideas are understood, valued, and built upon constructively.

  6. Cultivating Trust: Creating an atmosphere of trust and psychological safety where individuals feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and ideas without fear of judgment.

  7. Conflict Resolution: Addressing how to manage conflicts or disagreements constructively within a collaborative environment to channel them into productive outcomes.

  8. Empowering Individuals: Encouraging autonomy and ownership of ideas while fostering a sense of responsibility for contributing to innovative solutions.

  9. Learning from Failure: Embracing failure as part of the innovation process and learning from unsuccessful attempts to refine ideas and approaches.

  10. Capturing and Implementing Ideas: Discussing methods for capturing innovative ideas and translating them into actionable plans or products.

Language English
ISBN-10 0-87584-865-6
ISBN-13 9780875848655
No of pages 242
Font Size Medium
Book Publisher Harvard Business Review Press
Published Date 01 Jan 1999

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