Structure Stifles Creativity

 Structure can often stifle creativity. The good thing is there is a way to protect against this unfortunate reality.

Structure can be important. We need to know what to do and what others are expected to do in order to achieve results. It creates a more predictable environment and promotes teamwork. All of this contributes to an improved workspace. However, at the same time, structure can also stifle new ideas. We end up with remarks like, “The system won’t allow for that” or “We don’t do that here.”

There may be good reason for doing things how you do them. Depending on the level of risk or complexity, these reasons may be written in the blood of those that came before you. We must heed these lessons but it doesn’t mean we can’t improve on them.

One way to encourage creativity in a systematic environment is to change how you view the system. Many people look at the published regulations as the pinnacle to work towards achieving. They see it as what we are shooting for. 

However, what if we flipped this on it’s head and said the system was the foundation that we built our performance on. What if you looked at it like the first step in a bigger journey. What if it was the lessons we have learned and need to heed and a launching point for something bigger.

It isn’t easy to go beyond what’s written on the page. For most people, they have been told what not to do for a lot of their life. They are always looking for a reason to say no. If the system doesn’t say no, why are you feeling contained? Why can’t you do it differently? Why can’t you take an unconventional approach to reach the same goal in the same timeframe, within the same resource constraints? Why can’t you use the existing structures to build higher than anyone else has ever seen and look at the view from much higher. Why can’t you take the lessons that other’s have learned and apply them in a new way. 

Use the system as the foundation, not as the goal.

Sometimes You Need to Get Excited

Yesterday, I did a thing. I have been a glider pilot for thirty years, however, I have not been flying gliders recently. It’s part of my job, albeit not a core activity. I flew a glider again. It was pretty awesome. My performance was not awesome. It was good, it was safe, but it wasn’t as good as I like to perform. With effort it will get better.

What is much more important, I was really excited. Flying gliders is a rather unique aviation experience. It is very freeing and fun. I rode that wave of happiness all evening.

We get busy in life and always have a lot to worry about. Often everyone is solving problems and getting things headed in the right direction. That being said, everyone should find things to do that get them excited. Everyone should find a reason to smile. Everyone should chase some endorphins.

You often hear about self-care and mental wellness. The fact that we are discussing this more openly and often is great. Knowing that we need to take care of ourselves is a huge step forward. There was a time when you pushed the bad things deep down and buried them. We do this less than we used to. However, we often don’t know what to do to take care of ourselves. I find one of the key ideas is to get excited. 

When we get excited about things, time moves better and we have something to look forward to. When you can look forward to something, it gives you more purpose. If you have purpose, you know where to go, and knowing where to go, you should have less stress and anxiety.

As I was flying along, I was working harder than I used to to fly the glider well but I was smiling a lot. It was a special moment. I feel like I was accomplishing something I wanted to do. I felt my body relax.

Life is hard, sometimes you need to get excited about something.