“Cre8tive Leadership”
Fostering a Mindset of Innovation

Keynote Address #1 (1-3 hours)

A creative leader is part alchemist, part diplomat. They are always looking for imaginative ways to influence people to achieve their vision and harness their organization’s creative energy.

At the heart of creative leadership is the ability to see and bring together opposites. Whether it is a vision for a wayward organization… simplicity for a complex task… consensus to a conflict… or revenue for a budget cut.

In this high energy, interactive session you'll experience the key principles of opposite thinking that creative leaders employ.

• How to create new and improved ideas by reaching out to all viewpoints and not allowing opposing views to cancel each other out.
• How to create time for innovation by abandoning the old and outdated programs and policies that get in our way.
• Management expert, Peter Drucker states that abandoning the obsolete, the irrelevant, or the program with promise that never materialized is the “key to innovation.”

Through examples and exercises you’ll see that the organizational strategy of creative leaders is to break those old rules from elementary school and replace them with guidelines for collaboration, improvisation and reflection.

• Rather than think there is only one right answer. They look for second and third right answers.
• Rather than think the teacher is always right. They challenge management to look for answers from all levels.
• Rather than think the right answer is in the back of the book. They are constantly revising policy manuals based on the changing environment.
• Rather than think that passing notes and looking on someone else’s paper is cheating. They encourage collaboration and appreciate diversity of thought, even contrarian viewpoints.
• Rather than think that the answer is not on the ceiling. They take time every day to look at the ceiling and visualize the future they want to steer their organization toward.

 

 

“Be Curious First...”
The 15 Second Solution to Big Ideas

Keynote Address #2 (1-3 hours)

We don’t have time to sit under a tree waiting for creative inspiration. Learn how to “shake the tree” to let fresh ideas fall into your lap. Then be curious first... critical second to see what’s right with your new ideas.

In this high energy interactive session, Chic Thompson will open everyone’s mind to creating possibilities. The key learning points are:

• Diffuse self-defeating killer phrases
  
• Learn from trial & error rather than expecting trial & rightness
  
• Reframe challenges with metaphorical and paradoxical thinking
  
• Clarify your vision by making it visible and viable
  
• Ask “Why” five times to find the root cause of your challenge
  
• Become a continuous learner by asking the right questions
  
• Smile… laugh… have fun and fight “terminal seriousness”
  
• Keep your brain alive with neurobic exercises

 

 

 

“What a Great Idea!”
Turning Ideas into Action

Creativity Workshop (half or full day)

Everyone who’s ever taken a shower has had an idea. But it’s the person who gets out of the shower, dries off and does something about the idea that makes a difference.

In this creativity workshop, Chic Thompson will take you on an interactive journey through the four steps of organizational innovation: Freedom, Expression, Creation and Action. Interactive exercises, case examples and video clips will be used to spark ideas that will provide a great return on innovation for your organization.

Freedom
• Break the old “rules of school”
• Learn from failure
• Dream with your eyes open

Expression
• Be curious first… critical second
• “Shake the tree” for inspiration by adding stimuli
• Smile and change your world in a heartbeat

Creation
• Ask the right questions and see the uniqueness of your challenge
• Look for second and third right answers
• Expand your perspective with metaphorical thinking
• Challenge your assumptions with paradoxical thinking
• Learn a powerful brainstorming method called Idea Mapping

Action
• Make your vision visible
• Create a results-driven action plan and sell ideas with passion
• Keep your brain alive

 

“Chic has crafted a creative process to move almost anything from what is to what could be.”

Rick Goings, Chairman and CEO of Tupperware Brands

“Chic Thompson is the world’s greatest creative workshop presenter.”

Doug Hall, new product guru and judge on American Inventor

“You were an overwhelming hit... You’ve really had an impact”

Amelia DiVenere, VP Finance Cox Broadcasting