In one of my creative team meetings I felt that we could all learn a thing or two from Mr John Kao. He was the inspiration to deliver this Toolkit for my team and their managers.

1. Epilogue
The Creativity Toolkit
A guidebook for Monday Morning
With Thanks to John Kao.

2. Creative Individuals

3. INDIVIDUALS
Define the Creative Problem.
SHAPE YOUR CREATIVE INSPIRATION
TRANSFORM YOUR INSIGHTS INTO IDEAS
ESTABLISH THE FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH THE CREATIVE PROCESS UNFOLDS

4. INDIVIDUALS
Clear the Mind.
CREATIVITY COMES TO A RECEPTIVE MIND
YOU WANT A BLANK SHEET OF MENTAL PAPER
FIND A DARK ROOM, A BRISK WALK, LAPS IN A POOL, LISTEN TO MUSIC?

5. INDIVIDUALS
Activate the imagination.
IMAGINATION STRENGTHENS WITH USE - IT’S LIKE A MUSCLE
IGNORE LIMITS OF RESOURCES, SCIENCE AND LOGIC
FORCE YOUR THINKING INTO THE UNKNOWN

6. INDIVIDUALS
Wish.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT LANGUAGE CAN TRIGGER DREAMS
SAYING ‘I WISH’, HELPS FOCUS ON WHAT YOU DESIRE, VALUE AND HOPE IS POSSIBLE
WISHING MOBILISES PASSION

7. INDIVIDUALS
Get a fresh perspective.
WHAT WOULD SOMEONE FROM A MOTORCYCLE GANG SAY ABOUT YOUR DESIGN?
HOW WOULD MY 11-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, EMMA, RESPOND?
WHAT ABOUT THE GUY AT FSH?

8. INDIVIDUALS
Shake up your routine.
CHANGE YOUR WORKSPACE, HABITS, ROUTE, SCHEDULE
JOLT YOUR FAMILIAR FRAME OF REFERENCE AND YOUR MIND FROM IT USUAL HABITS
READ ONLY DESIGN BOOKS? BUY A NOVEL.

9. INDIVIDUALS
Find your woodshed.
EVERY ARTIST HAS A WOODSHED - FIND YOUR PLACE THAT STIMULATES OUR CREATIVE PROCESS
SILENT ROOM FAR FROM THE FRAY? THICK IN THE HUMAN CIRCUS?
WHEN YOU FIND YOUR SHOWER - DON’T GET OUT.

10. INDIVIDUALS
Expect to be creative.
ATHLETES WHO APPROACH THE STARTING BLOCK IMAGINING A WIN ARE MORE LIKLEY
TO SUCCEED THAN THOSE WHO DOUBT THEIR ABILITIES

11. INDIVIDUALS
Keep track of the process.
CREATIVITY IS INTANGIBLE WORK
JOT DOWN INSPIRATIONS IN A UBIQUITOUS BLANK NOTEBOOK TO MAKE IT TANGIBLE
TALK ABOUT YOUR CHALLENGE, SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE WHO WILL BEAR WITNESS

12. Creative Managers

13. MANAGERS
Know your role.
IT’S NOT ABOUT MICROMANAGING CREATIVE PROCESSES AND PEOPLE
IT’S NOT ABOUT COMMAND AND CONTROL
IT’S ABOUT DEFINING THE PROBLEM AND SETTING THE BOUNDARIES

14. MANAGERS
Be protective.
YOUR TEAM IS YOUR BABY. GUARD IT FIERCELY.
PASSIONATELY DEFEND FREE, OPEN, OFF-THE-WALL INTERACTION
MAKE IT SAFE

15. MANAGERS
Use theatrical gestures.
A STARTLING / VIVID GESTURE CAN CLEAR AND TURBOCHARGE THE MIND
A NEW LOCATION? EXPECTATION? METAPHOR? OR FRO-FRIDAY?
SEND YOUR TEAM TO GOLD REEF CITY. OR FORMULAE 1 RACING SCHOOL.

16. MANAGERS
Secure a hot zone.
ANY TEAM REQUIRE A PHYSICAL SPACE THATS BOTH SAFE AND STIMULATING
REHEARSAL VS CONCERT HALL? SMALL ROOM VS AIRY LOFT?
DON’T IMPOSE. INSTEAD LISTEN AND RESPOND.

17. MANAGERS
Create microcultures.
TEAMS NEED A STRONG SENSE OF IDENTITY AND UNITY
LOGOS, TRADEMARKS, FLAGS CAN CREATE VIVID METAPHORS FOR THE CHALLENGE
EVENTS AND WELL-TIMED SYMBOLIC ACTS BOOST SPIRIT

18. MANAGERS
Master the art of conversation.
MANAGEMENT OCCURS THROUGH CONVERSATION
IT’S A TOOL TO SET BOUNDARIES, ASSIGN TASKS, MONITOR PROGRESS, STATE EXPECTATIONS,
ASK QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE INPUT

19. MANAGERS
Make time an ally.
SYNCRONISE SCHEDULES, TIMETABLES AND DEADLINES
ESPECIALLY AMONGST CREATIVE FOLKS WHO VIEW TIME VERY DIFFERENTLY FROM THE REST

20. MANAGERS
Set boundaries.
EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE NEED EXTRAORDINARY BOUNDARIES
CREATIVE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THERE ARE LIMITS TO FREEDOM

21. MANAGERS
Practice the art of sitting out.
SEEK CREATIVITY OUTSIDE THE CORPORATE WALLS

22. MANAGERS
Trumpet your creativity.
IT’S A POWERFUL COMPETITIVE EDGE
LET YOUR MARKETPLACE, ORGANISATION, FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES KNOW YOU’VE GOT IT

23. For all of us

24. ALL OF US
Define our creative credo.
EXPERIMENTS MUST BE UNRESTRAINED
NOBLE FAILURE IS HONORABLE
CREATIVITY IS A PROCESS AND NOT AN EVENT
EVERYONE IS CREATIVE
ALL IDEAS ARE WELCOME
PREMATURE CLOSURE AND EXCESSIVE JUDGMENT ARE CARDINAL SINS
LINK CREATIVITY TO STRATEGY

25. ;-)
KEEPING IT LOOSEY GOOSEY BABE