Adopting and Innovating: Balancing Creative Styles


In the world of creativity and innovation, two styles often emerge: Adoptive and Innovative.

crucial conversations

Psychologists categorize creativity into adaptation (refinement) and innovation (invention).

  • Adoptive Creativity is about improving and refining existing ideas. It involves incremental changes and optimizations that make processes more efficient. Adoptive thinkers are systematic and detail-oriented, often excelling in environments that value precision and reliability. They are crucial for enhancing existing products or services.

  • Innovative Creativity, on the other hand, is about breaking the mold and creating something entirely new. Innovators think outside the box, often bringing radical changes and disruptive ideas. This style is essential for businesses looking to pioneer new markets or revolutionize industries.

But here’s the rub: our brains tend to favor one style over the other. This can lead to biases:

  • Adaption Bias: The tendency to cling to familiar ideas, even when superior alternatives exist.
  • Innovation Bias: The allure of the “new” can overshadow the value of proven methods.

The key is finding a balance:

  • Value both approaches: Acknowledge the strengths of both adaptation and innovation. A workplace that heavily favors innovation might miss out on the benefits of incremental improvements, leading to inefficient processes. Conversely, an environment that only values adoptive creativity might become stagnant and resistant to change.
  • Embrace collaboration: Form teams with a mix of creative styles to achieve a balance. In a professional setting, this might involve forming cross-functional teams that include both adoptive and innovative thinkers.
  • Encourage iteration: Refine new ideas through adaptation to create practical solutions.

By embracing the value of both adoptive and innovative creative styles, and actively working to mitigate biases, organizations can foster a culture of continuous improvement and breakthrough innovation.

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