Efficiency Increases When Creatives and Analyticals Work Together
Hindsight is 20/20
A creative idea is usually quite simple once discovered. The solution may be hidden at first, but it can seem obvious and almost like a no-brainer when revealed through a creative thought or idea. It may even seem like common sense. Yet, in the heat of the moment when an answer is needed, it can be hard to see the solution.
Many times, creative thinking is not coming up with the brand-new widget. Although that does happen, more often, creative thinking involves the bits and pieces of the operations within our business. These can include:
Aligning organizational staff around the vision
Creating new processes
Shortening the time frame between conception to market
Finding solutions to the hiring dilemma
The list goes on and on.
Creative solutions come when right-brain creatives work with left-brain analyticals
When you look at this on just the surface, many of these business challenges are logical and maybe even left-brain functions, but for creative solutions, we need a right-brain creative type to help the left-brain activities function smoothly.
Take any department such as Accounting, Human Resources, IT, etc., that involves many numbers or analytical processes. There are probably solutions that are needed to make operations more effective. Sure, you could probably come up with a left-brain logical explanation, but creative thinking can often support those functions to make them even better. It is like the right hand is helping the left hand and vice versa. It is hard to function effectively with one hand tied behind your back. It is hard to operate with half a brain—meaning either the left side or right side of the brain only.
Everyone benefits when we work together
Similarly, there is no doubt that the creative right brain person could use better left-brain functions and some structure and processes to help their creativity be more fruitful. Most creative types would agree. Likewise, most left-brain types, the logical and analytical, could benefit from the creative right-side to help their left-side functions be more effective.
I am always looking for ways to connect art and the analytical, where both can be more effective. This blog is designed for the latter person and intended to help the left-brain, logical person to be more effective, even if it is in a small way. It is about how that individual can tap into some creativity to give its logical functions a better edge. That concept is fascinating to me. Maybe that is why, as a creative person who went to art school, I decided to get my MBA and then use that degree in the workplace for a season. I knew I could benefit from both hemispheres of the brain.
Maybe it makes me a bit of an oddity, but I think there are benefits from using both sides of my brain. I feel just as comfortable with numbers as I do with a paintbrush. Don't get me wrong; sometimes, I sense the inner conflict between the creative side of me and the logical side of me. In the same way, you might see a clash with your staff between those two groups of people. In the heat of the moment, we often forget that we do need each other to make things work at the highest level.
How can the creatives and the analyticals work together?
1. Recognize each person's skills or talents as something positive. That means the creatives are just as much of an asset as the analytical people in the room. Both bring something positive to the table. Sometimes we tend to think of people who are not like us as a hindrance to progress. When in reality, the person sitting at the opposite side of the table may very well have a key to the puzzle and will help you solve a big problem. Do you need more convincing? Read Stephanie Vozza' Fast Company article entitled, "Why It's Better to Work With Someone Who Is Your Polar Opposite."
2. Try to understand the other person's perspective. Most people are not trying to make your life miserable, even though sometimes we may think they are. It may seem hard to understand their perspective, especially when we don't think like the other person. Creatives can have a hard time understanding how the analyticals think and vice versa. Be prepared, as this may take a bit more time to implement, but it is well worth it. If you are having a hard time collaborating with someone you don't like, Mark Nevins Harvard Business Review article is worth the read.
3. Create some ground rules. If you lead a team of creatives and analyticals, establishing a few basic ground rules can undoubtedly set the tone for a positive experience as everyone tries to come up with some creative solutions to the big problems your company is facing. If you want a list of possible ground rules for both brainstorming session as well as secondary meeting ground rules, Terrence Metz of MG Rush has over 40 suggestions (mgrush.com)
This creative guy with an MBA wants to help his left-brain friends solve a few logical problems. And, who knows, maybe along the way, you can help me with some of my logical, numbers, and analytical issues. I think together we can be more efficient.
Until then, work together to keep the Creative Edge.
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