Today I am going to show you a very simple yet brutally effective way of re-positioning your creativity in the minds of your co-workers, customers and pretty much anyone you come into contact with.

The Problem
1) No matter how “Creative” you think you are, your boss, or those around you, just don’t get it.
2) Decision makers are uncomfortable with new ideas and would prefer to play it safe than take big risks.
3) You have the potential to be creative but no one recognises it.

The Solution
Create multiple Creativity Spikes and weave them into your day to day language.

What is a Creativity Spike?
A Creativity Spike is defined as a story that demonstrates an extremely unusual creative practise that sounds so ridiculous it could never be possible, yet it is told with such conviction that it could pass for a standard business practice.

What is it good for?
It gets people used to the idea of having extremely haphazard goings on within a relatively calm and safe atmosphere.

Some examples of Creativity Spikes I use:
“Smoke Machine Fridays”: Many companies have “Dress Down Fridays” in a terrible attempt to be cool. Go one step further by insisting on Smoke Machine Fridays. If anybody asks what it is, tell them that its exactly what it sounds like. Smoke Machines on Fridays. Don’t, under any circumstances actually fire off a smoke machine on a Friday. Just drop it in casually around the water cooler.

“Quidditch team sign up sheet”: Many companys have a 5-a-side football / soccer / hockey team or informal sporting events after work. Take things a step further and advertise for sign ups for the fictional sport of Quidditch. Place a few broomsticks in the bicycle rack for effect. Make sure that you regularly post results of the fictional matches, complete with team names, where everyone can see them. This is very effective at getting clients and staff to believe that anything is possible.

“Pornographic Screensaver policy”: Create a policy where all computers used for powerpoint presentations (perhaps in the boardroom) are installed with pornographic screensavers. The purpose being that if any presentation goes on too long, and a presenter dwells too long on a certain slide, they will be embarrassed with hardcore donkey/midget/grandma action in front of their clients. Don’t ever ACTUALLY install a porno screensaver, just tell everybody you did, and their presentations will be so much more snappy and to the point.

I will often start a presentation by telling the audience that there is a highly pornographic screensaver installed, so if I am on a point for longer than 2 minutes they are in for a shock. You’d be surprised by just how much extra attention I get!!!

Remember
The point of a Creativity Spike is to make those around you feel like they regularly engage with Dangerous and Challenging creative issues and Nothing Bad happens when they do.

It is not to lie, or pull a prank, or to create a negative environment.

If you need some inspiration look at classic fairy tales like The Elves and the Shoemaker they should give you a good staring point for how you can sow the seeds of imagination into the hearts and minds of those around you with a few magical ideas.

If you have enjoyed this, why not check out these other interesting things?