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Naming Elephants

Sunday 5th April 2009 | No comments

One of the greatest blocks to a creative work environment is all the things that aren't said, often because things are just assumed to be a particular way. There is an elephant in the room; everyone knows it's there but no-one talks about it.

If we don't air these blocks, these assumptions, they are like a black hole, absorbing innovative ideas and creative impulses, but not seen and never mentioned.

For example, a staff member in an insurance company, Sylvia, may come up with a new idea for processing client applications. Sylvia may be perfectly placed to know what would work best, as she is responsible for entering application data into the computer system. But if she assumes:

• senior management won't listen to her idea
• if she was that clever, she would be senior herself
• things work the way they do now because it must be the best way
• if the idea was really good, someone else would already have thought of it
• her boss won't like it if she shows initiative
• stick your head up and it will be chopped off

then the idea will remain in her head and nothing will change.

Now, it may be that some or all of Sylvia's assumptions are in fact true. It may also be that her idea is not as helpful as she believes, or there are facts she doesn't have that would render it unworkable.

But, what a risk for an organisation to take - to cut off potentially great ideas at the knees, by allowing these unspoken and unquestioned beliefs to permeate the corporate culture.

So, what are the assumptions in your workplace? Start by asking yourself these questions:

• Do we encourage all levels of staff to participate?
• How long since we really sat down and went through all our procedures, our ways of doing things?
• Do people make suggestions for change often? If so, what happens to the idea (and to the person who raises it?) If not, why not?
• What are our workplace assumptions?
• What things are never discussed, or are undiscussable?
• Are the beliefs of those at the top known to those in the rest of our organisation?

Happy elephant naming!

Tags: business, creativity, tips, assumptions

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