Good Read: Inside the Box

Originally posted on #GovLife.

Innovation. Creativity. These are words that we’re seeing more and more around the public service these days as a result of Blueprint 2020. And yet, I know there are people who feel the exact opposite about it.

I don’t want to get into this too much, but Jessica Olien’s Inside the Box piece really struck a chord with me. Studies actually show that there is a creative bias towards creative thinkers, and an inability to recognize creative ideas.

It’s actually kind of terrifying, the further you get into the article. Or at least that’s how I felt.

So whether you’re a manager, a supervisor, a team leader, or even a colleague of someone who has creative ideas, encourage them. I’ll admit, some ideas, no matter how great, just don’t fit within the public service. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t. Teach these people to harness their creativity, their great ideas, and make them into something that will work. It will benefit us all.