I was delighted to be invited to a talk about the imagination from Albert Read, MD of Conde Nast, and his co-host Will Gompertz, Artistic Director of the Barbican, at the Conduit in Covent Garden last week. The content inspired me, so much so that I’m writing a more in-depth article for later publication, but here is some food for thought.
When companies are in start-up mode, creativity is rife and new ideas are welcomed.
We are told there are no bad ideas, just ideas to be fleshed out, developed, or dropped.
Conversely, and perhaps cruelly, look where so many so called, great ideas have gotten us? It’s not all sunshine and sangrias, for many good ideas, in time, turn into bad ones.
Yes, lots of scope for discussion on that topic alone!
Also, in this first flush faze (wow 3Fs!) it’s OK to fail and it is OK to be a beginner.
Mistakes are more easily forgiven, and this ignites a culture of openness and collaboration, which is lost as companies grow and become more complex and hierarchical.
It’s easy to see the benefit that larger corporations discover in allowing smaller offshoot organisations to be nurtured under the wing of the established company.
It re-invigorates those earlier times of creativity and discovery, away from cumbersome bureaucracy.
Finally, do look up Albert Lee’s new book, The Imagination Muscle and Will Gompertz’s, See What You’re Missing, I’m working my way through both!