How to Have Creative Meetings
You may remember this quote from my post on Receiving Feedback. In his “rules and hints for students and teachers or anybody else,” composer John Cage writes:
“Rule 8 Do not try to create and analyze at the same time. They are different processes.”
To have truly generative and creative meetings, we need to put our analytic minds aside and open ourselves up to what scientist and improvisational actor, Uri Alon calls, “the cloud.” Easier said than done! But there are a few tricks we can take from the world of theater to set the stage for creativity, even in the board room.
1) Set up the meeting by reminding everyone that this time is set aside to create and not to decide, take action, finalize, or perfect.
2) Let everyone know that ALL ideas will be entertained. In fact, the more outlandish the idea, the better!
3) Let everyone know that you if any doubts or obstacles are voiced, they will be added to a “Parking Lot” for a different meeting. You may have to reassure people that you will get back to reality. And that the creative mind needs absolute acceptance (see my blog post on Giving Feedback as a reminder of the process from creating to editing).
4) Ask everyone to practice “Yes, and.” This is a basic tenet of improvisational theater.
The “yes” is the complete acceptance of any idea put forward no matter how ludicrous, untenable, ridiculous or impossible.
The “and” is adding to that idea, building upon that idea, taking it even further!
5) Celebrate and applaud every mistake, failure, and bad plan.
6) Invite everyone to start with their absolute WORST ideas!
7) Have fun! Joy, connection, and play are your allies in creativity.