John Cleese: “Creativity is not a talent. It is a way of operating”
I’m normally allergic to people on stage preaching about creativity. But I’m so glad I made an exception for John Cleese.
Here, in a talk from 1991, Cleese outlines his model for how creativity happens (and how to kill it, if you so wish). Along the way, he shows how great a speaker he is.
In brief: the most creative people have simply acquired a facility for getting themselves into a particular mood — a way of operating — which allowed their natural creativity to function⦠the ability to play. Indeed the most creative people are childlike, playing with ideas for no immediate practical purpose but just for enjoyment.
“Creativity is absolutely unrelated to IQ.”
People at work operate in one of two modes: open and closed. Creativity can not happen in the closed mode, which is where we usually live. The closed mode is important for execution, once you’ve decided on a path in the open mode.
There are certain things you can do to get yourself into the open mode. You’ll need…
Space
Create a physical separation from the demands that keep you in the closed mode.
“You can’t become playful, and therefore creative, if you’re under your usual pressures.”
Time
Create that space for a specific, predetermined period.
“It’s not enough to create space; you have to create your space for a specific period of time.”
Time (again)
Take the time to persevere past the discomfort that comes from not having a solution yet (ask yourself “when does this decision have to be made?”).
“Giving your mind as long as possible to come up with something original”
Confidence
Don’t be afraid that moving in some direction will be “wrong” (“you can’t be spontaneous with reason”); while you’re being creative, there is no “wrong”.
“Nothing will stop you being creative so effectively as the fear of making a mistake.”
Humor
Humor is an essential part of spontaneity and playfulness, and doesn’t remove from the seriousness of the work.
“The main evolutionary significance of humor is that it gets us from the closed mode to the open mode quicker than anything else.”
Absolutely recommended viewing in full. C’mon, it’s John Cleese!
