Creative Steps

Conventional Wisdom produces a tyranny of what is accepted over what is true. This can be seen in all areas of knowledge, including creativity coaching.

Within a very large range of ideas, we are able to believe what we please. We are able to hold whatever world view that best fits our tastes. This can lead to a tyranny of ‘what is acceptable’ over what is relevant or useful. Perhaps to call it a tyranny is a little strong, but there is certainly a danger associated with ideas constrained by the boundaries of conventional wisdom.

An audience of any kind is likely to applaud most what they like best.

Even the internet is constrained by conventional wisdom. To a certain degree Google defines the ‘markets’ so ideas tend to be organised around Google’s definitions and conventions. In this way, obscurity is guaranteed to people that do not adhere to theses norms; if you want to be found by people interested in your topic then you must use the keywords that these people are using in their searches with the result that even the most original thinker can soon just be ‘giving them what they want.’ Passion for a subject is soon replaced with finding out what people and offering them more of the same.

It happens in politics too. To Fly a Kite means to raise an idea to gauge the reaction to it. Depending on the reaction, the idea may be implemented (if the reaction was positive) or disowned and denied (if negative).

The test of audience approval influences content much more than the test of truth or utility.

Ideas come to be organised around what the audience as a whole finds ‘acceptable’ and the skill of the internet marketer or political svengali is to identify and reproduce what is acceptable.  Never is this more true than in the case of the speaker that opens his address by stating his intention of telling the hard, shocking truth; inevitably these speeches go on to expound want the audience most wants to hear.

It pays to be on the guard for conventional wisdom; it pays to keep looking for what is right and what gets results and not just resonates with what we want to hear.

What is the conventional wisdom in the field of creativity coaching? Here is one way of looking at it: whatever sounds ‘acceptable’ but doesn’t get you results.

Remember this: performance improvement should always be about results. Selling information is often about peddling conventional wisdom.

Know this: www.creative-steps.com, How to coach yourself to increasing creativity is about performance improvement.  Take a look at my guarantee.

About a year ago a client and I parted company because she wanted to spend more time nurturing her creative child. This is a shame, especially as I am a firm believer in the conventional wisdom of ‘refilling the well’ (as Julia Cameron calls it).

We really do need to nurture our creative selves; we need time and space and inspiration for growth. But we need other things too. We need to do the work now and again and any coaching that tells you differently is not doing you any favours. I was calling my client to account. I guarantee results and don’t like time wasters.

This client subsequently re-contacted me and we again started worked together. After a period of self-nurture she realised that she was no closer to her goal. Being commended by her support group did not bring her the same satisfaction as actually completing her exhibition. When she was ready she got down to the work.

In any field success is most likely to be driven by doing the work: accountability and follow up are universally useful. You must nurture your creative child but you must also remember that your creative child needs to get off its creative arse now and again.

“Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion.” Jack Kerouac

Tags: Coach Yourself, Creativity Coaching

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 11th, 2009 at 9:10 pm and is filed under Creative Steps Coaching Course, Creativity Coaching. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.