"What must one do to survive in the 21st century?"
The No. 1 answer: "Practice creativity and innovation." The same group was asked how well it was delivering on the creativity and innovation scale. Only 6 percent felt they were doing a great job. The creativity deficit may be the single most dangerous gap in American business. Creativity, innovation and vision are three words that circle nearly every management powwow like a trio of buzzards. They gnaw at us because they sound so intimidating. Yet creativity is a lot simpler than we think. Every study known to mankind shows no correlation between creativity and IQ. A correlation between creativity and measurement or focus? That's a different matter.
Mention the words creative accounting. What pops up in most people's minds is cooking the books. But how about accounting for creativity and making it part of the company's internal balance sheet? Start by keeping some lists of things you do right. What if more businesses encouraged bottom-line creativity just that way? Believe me, the investor stampede would be unstoppable.
Bend rules. One of the main reasons why TGI Friday's restaurants work is that the waiters and waitresses are told to bend rules. Are sardines on the menu? Not that I noticed. Want a sardine sandwich for dinner? You got it. Some sous-chef will buzz down to the grocer to snag a can of sardines, if that will make you a happy camper.
Be direct! At the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, a feature directed and scripted by Karyn Kusama called "Girlfight" won top honors. Why? The New York Times says: "Instruction for a new actress: Don't flirt, take on the camera." Just be direct. In business, it's the same. Ask yourself: How much creative energy do you lose by ducking punches? Creativity means guts, not games. You know the standard dodges: "Let's table this," or even worse, "Let's send it to Legal."
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