A Bed, A Bath, and A Bus (no, they don’t walk into a bar)
Where does inspiration *really* come from?
Spring must be around the corner as I’m feeling especially inspired, so I thought I’d share this extra post which was prompted by an article in the New York Times. I’m not sharing it just ‘cause I’m inspired, but because I think it could be useful to you managers who are looking for ways to help your team think more creatively.
The connection between productivity and creative thinking
Okay. Let’s talk about productivity and creative thinking – do you think there’s a connection?
Being productive means being focused. Being focused isn’t so much an action as a way of processing information. When we’re focused, our brains react well to performing tasks. And that’s a productive way of working in order to achieve goals.
How the brain works best when you want it to be creative
But what about when we want to be creative – does our brain work the same way as when it’s focused?
That’s a big fat “nope”. When you’re unfocused – say, staring out the window – your brain switches to another mode. Psychiatrist Dr. Srini Pillay calls this the default mode or the “do mostly nothing” mode. So much more than the act of goofing off, this mode is actually very important for thinking creatively because it’s active when we’re daydreaming. (Did you know that Einstein came up with the theory of relativity while he was daydreaming about what it would be like to ride on the end of a beam of light in space?)
Effective brainstorming requires letting your mind wander into this default mode. “The default mode network can retrieve details from the nooks and crannies in your brain’s memories that the logical brain cannot retrieve,” Dr. Pillay said, “which is why sometimes people say they have their best ideas in the shower.”
The three B’s of inspiration
This falls in line with what I call the three B’s of where inspiration can spontaneously occur:
· The bed – we often get ideas just as we’re falling asleep or just waking up. To take advantage of this inspiration, keep a small notebook and pen on your bedside table
· The bath – being near water is highly conducive to creative thinking. Keep a small notebook and pen in the bathroom, or write your thought on the steamy shower door. Even if the message dribbles away, the act of writing it will help you remember it.
· The bus (or the car, the train, the boat) – this is all about motion. Do what? You got it – keep a small notebook on you, or make use of the notes feature on your phone. I prefer writing because it’s a double reinforcement – not only do I see the note, the note is reinforced by using muscle memory.
Will you sanction goofing off for your team?
If you agree that having your team be in the “do mostly nothing” mode is good preparation for brainstorming, what could you put into your work culture that would make “goofing off” acceptable? Share with your fellow managers in the comments!