It is well-recognized that finding solutions to the problems facing Hawaii, whether reducing homelessness, diversifying the economy, or addressing rising sea levels, requires innovative ideas. One of the University of Hawaii’s five strategic priorities is the Hawaii Innovation Initiative, the goal of which is to “create more high-quality jobs and diversify Hawaii’s economy” through innovation, research and education.

Hawaii has a very active entrepreneurship community working to move innovations into successful businesses with organizations like XLRUH, Blue Startups, EO Hawaii, the Hawaii Venture Capital Association and many others.

It is also well-recognized that the need for innovation goes well beyond developing new products, services and businesses. We need innovation in how we get things done at all levels of an organization.

At the heart of innovation is creativity. Innovation is the process of introducing something new; creativity is the ability to image and create something new. An IBM survey in 2010 of more than 1,500 chief executive officers from 60 countries and 33 industries found CEOs believe that, more than rigor, management discipline, integrity or even vision, successfully navigating an increasingly complex world requires creativity.

We all know or have met creative individuals — artists, musicians, designers, entrepreneurs and scientists. Finding solutions to the serious problems facing Hawaii requires greatly expanding the set of creative people here and making good use of their skills. What will that take?

Dr. Po Chi Wu, in his book, “Agile Innovation: The Revolutionary Approach to Accelerate Success, Inspire Engagement, and Ignite Creativity,” dives into the questions that surround creativity: What is creativity? How much of creativity is talent and how much is a skill? How can we inspire ourselves and each other to express ourselves creatively? He will be sharing his research in this area during a free public lecture at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Architecture Auditorium on Nov. 1.

Research about creativity and the creative process, like those found in Dr. Wu’s book, date back as far as Leonardo da Vinci. What do we know about creativity from these studies, old and new?

Most importantly, we know that creativity is not an innate ability limited to just a select few. It is not the result of a specially developed “right brain.” You need to look no further than the average preschooler who asks a hundred creative questions a day to recognize that everyone has the capacity to be creative.

Next, we know that the capacity to be creative can be developed and encouraged by addressing the factors that promote, and the factors that inhibit, creativity. Common factors include: self-doubt and the fear of being judged on bad ideas, immersion in and attentiveness to a problem, open-mindedness, experimentation and working with mistakes, and exchange and interaction with others.

Creativity is not an innate ability limited to just a select few

Doubts about the value of a new idea are useful in that they encourage the search for better options. But allowing those doubts to progress to self-doubt will discourage further work. Creative confidence is built through experience — a nonlinear process that requires experimentation, cycling through unsuccessful options and learning from failures.

Despite the metaphor of a light bulb being turned on, creative ideas do not suddenly appear out of nowhere. New ideas arise as a result of being immersed in a domain, being attentive to problems and relationships among elements, de-emphasizing standard practices and preconceptions, and focusing on divergent ideas.

If we are to find creative solutions to our problems, organizations must build environments and cultures that encourage everyone to make creative contributions and provide the training opportunities to build creative skills.

The University of Hawaii Manoa Outreach College will present a free Sakamaki Extraordinary Lecture, “Myths and Misconceptions about Creativity,” with Dr. Po Chi Wu, Nov. 1, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the School of Architecture Auditorium. More information can be found here.

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