Comments on: What Are Your Thoughts On Clarity and Creativity?

By: kirk

kirk — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:27:00 +0000

I believe that freedom of movement is the early stages of creativity, but there should be a continual growth towards clarity as you move forward. As you mentioned, the brainstorming stage could be a great place for this. I tend to think that this could be very useful in an area where you cast the vision or story to someone who is an expert where you aren't and let them run. If there are necessary parameters like, you'll have this much space on stage, or it must fit in this amount of time or be set to this song, then these are points of clarity that should be added as well. But outside of that, their interpretation of the story/metaphor/idea and subsequent communication, even within those boundaries, will take form within the bounds of God's wiring of their creativity rather than your over-management leaving it wide open for discussion/conversation. The end result, done well, communicates the vision or story, leaving the audience with a clear picture but also room to enter into the conversation of ideas.

By: kirk

kirk — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:14:34 +0000

nice point! according to the need of the moment…

By: A couple of phrases and ideas that rub me wrong - Shawn Wood Writes…

A couple of phrases and ideas that rub me wrong - Shawn Wood Writes… — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:11:10 +0000

[...] finally, I was reading my friend Carlos’ blog regarding thoughts [...]

By: @JoJo_330

@JoJo_330 — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:31:20 +0000

As a leader of creatives AND more linear people, I think you have to know what your people need and give that to them. In most cases I find it is a little of both creativity and clarity. I find that I work best that way myself. Clear on the end point with enough room to be creative with how I get there. It gives the upber creative a fence to play in and challenges the linear to new places.

By: evambrose

evambrose — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 01:58:50 +0000

You have a good one here Los: would the REAL ENFJ please stand up…. joking

bummed…I had a good response but since it took me an hour to mull over my session expired (grrr) okay:

applying Jesus' form of teaching to a create on demand environment might look like someone providing an opportunity to dream and create outside of any sort of limit EVEN THOUGH the leader might have a specific direction or goal. Then, applying some sort of direction and allowing people to work within the goal or definition so that creativity is bread in both ways. It looks like the conversation was a "creativity vs. clarity" debate and I would argue that Creativity invites both clarity and ambiguity.

I would add one thing to your above statement Byron and would say: Leaders of creatives are charged with the role of a LOVING antagonist, creating healthy dissonance, and tension that fosters new, unexpected combustion…

By: Byron

Byron — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:39:15 +0000

By: Byron

Byron — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:36:19 +0000

Wow… I am late to the discussion. My 2 cents: "LEAD SOCRATICLY!" It's important for the leader to first be clear on where the team needs to go, even if the team never is. Jesus knew where He was going and desired for others to follow. All the team really needs to be clear on is in "trusting the creative cultural process that you the leader create." I hope that makes sense.
Second, the leader must spend her/ his time, through probing questions, stories, and intelligent push back, draw out the best in the creative team allowing creatives to personally and professional evolve as creatives and value added contributors.

Lastly, leaders of creatives are charged with the role of antagonist, creating healthy dissonance, and tension that fosters new, unexpected combustion's that produce brilliant and remarkable stuff.

By: Dave ©

Clarity about what? Purpose? Vision? Strategy? Direction? Objective? The exact approach that should be followed? The 3 steps they are to take to complete a project? The specific colors that must be used?

Just throwing this out there because I'm not 100% convinced of this myself but it seems to me that the higher up the task food chain of sorts (purpose, vision, strategy), the more important clarity is. The lower down the task food chain (tactics, style, "say it this way", etc), the less important clarity is and, in fact, might even hinder individual creativity.

So I guess I'd say that clarity is categorically critical but specifically hindering. On an X and Y axis, ideal clarity would start off high with purpose and vision and tail off as it moves toward tactics and specific actions.

By: Malachi

Malachi — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:16:16 +0000

It seems pretty simple. Jesus communicated to the masses in parables. But to His team he spoke clearly. I hope I am not over-simplifying it.

By: CaroleTurner

CaroleTurner — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:35:37 +0000

Very educational. I am learning and loving it. Tks.