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Fear and Failure: A Sure Path to Creativity and Innovation Dr. Jennifer Walinga Royal Roads University Roads to Research
Fear and Failure: A Sure Path to Creativity and
Innovation
Dr. Jennifer Walinga Royal Roads University
Roads to Research
Optimal Performance Despite Adversity
Optimal Performance Despite Adversity
Optimal Performance Despite Adversity
Optimal Performance Despite Adversity
Optimal Performance Despite Adversity
Creative Thinking: How many ways can you think of to use one brick?
What if you don’t have a brick?
Creative Insight…
By moving only three sticks, can you change the pattern on the right to look like the pattern on the left?
By moving only three sticks, can you change the pattern on the right to look like the pattern on the left?
Barriers as Pathways to Creative Solutions
You
Barrier
Values and
Goals
Human Barriers to Problem Solving and Decision Making Ability
Penetrating barriers to gain a new view of the problem...
“Between stimulus and response there is a
space”
Victor Frankl
Man’s Search for Meaning
Problem Solving, Creativity and Insight
• Problem solving (Guilford, 1950) • Remote association (Mednick, 1959)
• Attentional breadth (Mendelsohn, 1976) • Innovation and adaptation (Kirton, 1980)
• Problem framing (Getzels, 1975) • Conceptual combination (Mumford & Baughman,1997)
• Divergent thinking (Osborn, 1953) • Problem finding (Volkema, 1995)
• Problem construction (Maier, 1930) • Solution readiness (Chronicle, et al, 2002)
• Impasse (Ohlsson, 2004)
Brainstorming Solutions
Convergence
Divergence
Divergence
Divergence
Finding the Problem and Then
Brainstorming the Solutions
Divergence Divergence
Divergence
Convergence
Peak Performance
• Flow (Csikszentmihalyi, 1992)
• Optimism (Seligman, 1991)
• Locus of Control (Lazarus & Folkman, 1987)
• Self Efficacy (Bandura, 1977)
• Creativity (Getzels, 1972; Torrance, 1987; Parnes & Noller, 1972)
Vikes Soccer Walinga, J. (2008). Change Readiness: The Roles of Appraisal, Focus, and Perceived Control. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 44(3), p. 315- 347. * Sage Publications most read article 2010 * Western Academy of Management Best Doctoral Paper Award 2007
• Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (Lazarus & Folkman, 1987-2005)
• Thriving (Spreitzer, 2005; Luthans, 2007) • Resilience (Maddi & Kobasa) • A stressor or problem triggers the limbic and hypothalamus
centre of the brain • Failure, fear, perceived threat, and worry results in a
deactivation of the frontal motor cortex of the brain • Heightened Threat Vigilance • Results in Threat Focus vs Value or Goal Focus • De-activation of power and confidence • Can’t have both sides switched on at same time
Problem Solving Under Stress…
Interpretation - Challenge or Threat?
• Eustress (Selye, 1990)
• Anxiety direction
(Jones & Swain, 1995; Selye, 1956)
• Cognitive / interpretive bias
(Eysenck, 1992; Mathews, 1993)
• Cue utilization
(Easterbrook, 1959)
ReFraming Workplace Injury WCB grant
Walinga, J. (2008). Reframing Workplace Injury (Oakland, CA), Western Academy of Management Conference Proceedings
Transforming Stress in the Workplace Walinga, J., & Rowe, W. (2013). Transforming stress in complex work environments: Exploring the capabilities of middle managers in the public sector. International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 6(1), 66-88.
Know Fear
Barriers as Pathways to Values
You
Barrier
Values and
Goals
Fear is a beacon that reveals your core
values ~ Stephen Hayes (2007)
Readiness
“The seeds of great discoveries are constantly floating around us, but they only take root in minds
well-prepared to receive them.”
The American physicist Joseph Henry
Readiness
• Theory of Change (Lewin, 1957)
• Transtheoretical Model
(Prochaska et al, 1997) • Processing Efficiency (Eysenck & Calvo, 1992) • Anxiety Direction (Jones & Swain, 1992)
• Self efficacy (Bandura, 1977) • Perceived behavioural control (Ajzen, 1998; Karasek, 1979) • Perceived need for change and
active participation in the change process (Cunningham et al, 2002)
• Decisional latitude and balance (Hackman & Oldham, 1975)
Readiness to Seek Alternatives
Readiness to See Alternatives
Root and Route Finding…
Failure
“Stuckedness”
Failure is not an option...
Fitting Square Pegs into Round Holes
Garet Hill
CREATIVITY UNDER CONSTRAINT...
Kidney Chains 3M Post-it Notes H1N1 Disney Queues QC Rock Video
Spence Silver
Gareth Hill
Garet Hill
CREATIVITY UNDER CONSTRAINT...
Kidney Chains 3M Post-it Notes H1N1 Disney Queues QC Rock Video
Spence Silver
Failure means…
Accepting the barrier as reality
Letting go
Making a cognitive shift
Opening to new ideas
Seeking alternatives
Accepting limitations
Relaxing constraints
"in the fields of observation, chance only favours
the mind which is prepared..."
Louise Pasteur
Training Insight
Walinga, J., Cunningham, J.B., & MacGregor, J. (2010). Improving Performance in Solving Insight Problems: The Roles of Assumptions, Barriers and Goals. Journal of Creative Behavior, 45(1) 47-58.
Arrange the 12 coins so that each side of the hexagon has 4.
Arrange the 12 coins so that each side of the hexagon has 4.
Draw 4 straight lines that pass through all of the 9 dots without taking your pencil off the page or reversing over a line
Draw 4 straight lines that pass through all of the 9 dots without taking your pencil off the page or reversing over a line
Focus and Framing
“A new more penetrating view of the problem” Wertheimer, 1959
Problem Composition
• Internal locus of control (Lazarus & Folkman, 1987)
• Problem framing (Kahneman & Tversky, 1981)
• Problem finding (Basadur, 2000)
• Cognitive restructuring (Ohlsson, 1992)
• Solution readiness (Ormerod, Chronicle, & MacGregor, 2003)
• Goal setting (Locke & Latham, 1994)
Barriers as Pathways
Walinga, J. (2011). From Walls to Windows: Using Barriers as Keys to Unlock Insightful Solutions. Journal of Creative Behavior, 44(3), p. 1-25.
Expanding the Focus
You
Barrier
Values and
Goals
Inquiry and Dialogue
• Lewin “Unfreezing, Refreezing”
• Argyris “Double Loop Learning”
• Schein “Process Consulting”
• Dewey “Experiential Learning”
• Mezirow “Transformative Learning”
• Kegan “Questioning Assumptions”
Transformative Learning: The Power of Narrative
Desire, Deterrent, Danger, Dilemma, Decision, Disaster, Denouement
Integrated Focus: How do I resolve the challenges the
barrier poses to my goal? (addresses barrier and goal)
Barrier focus: How do I resolve the
barrier? (ignores goal)
Goal Focus: How do I achieve my
goal? (ignores barrier)
Individual Goal Barrier
The Integrated Focus Model and Process
• Ministry of Jobs, Tourism & Skills Training • BC Assessment • Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal
Communities • Islands Trust BC • Greater Toronto Area Colleges • Unit 4 Business Solutions • City of Vancouver • Hartley Insurance • Maximus Health • Northern Health • BA Commerce Team Case Competition, Royal Roads
University • Centre for Applied Leadership and Management
Royal Roads University • Centre for Sport Exercise and Education, Camosun
College • Canadian Evaluation Society • City of Port Coquitlam • BC Public Service • Women of Whistler • Health Work and Wellness Association • HR Institute of Alberta • BC HR Management Association
• National Managers’ Network • HBC – The Bay • Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Research • British Columbia Institute of Technology • Northern Alberta Institute of Technology • Northern Lights College • Pensions BC • Department of National Defense • Military Family Resource Centre • Victoria Epilepsy and Parkinson’s Association • University of Victoria, Executive MBA Program • University of Victoria: Soccer and Rowing Programs • Canadian Back Institute • Parks Canada • Victoria School District • Archipelago Marine Research Group • Royal Roads University • Velox Rugby Football Club • St. Michaels University School • University of PEI Leadership Development Program • University of PEI Senior Management Team • Manulife
What is the problem?
(articulating interpretive frame)
Are current solutions sustainable?
(accepting failure of threat frame becoming ready to seek alternatives)
What is the fear?
(revealing protected values)
What is important?
(expanding the problem frame)
(allowing systemic and sustainable solutions to emerge)
What is the solution?
