With the passing of Steve Jobs last year, not only did the latest biography spawn conversations, but chatter continues on the topic of creativity and sustainable innovation in the workplace. On April, 13, 2012 the Wall Street Journal published an article written by Tony Wagner, author of “Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World.”
Wagner points to 3 key elements that education should focus on if they want innovation to flourish:
- Play
- Passion
- Purpose
I believe these concepts readily apply to the field of health promotion. In addition, with employee engagement figures at an all time low, it seems an appropriate time for new thinking.
“Globally, just over a third (35%) of employees are highly engaged — a particularly disturbing fact given the strong relationship that exists between high levels of sustained engagement and company financial results.”
2012 Towers Watson Global Workforce Survey
Play
Children love to play, however, so do adults. As a nation we have drifted away from servicing that inherent need. So much of our life is structured, scheduled and trapped in a painful time frame.
Small bits of unstructured time (think recess) could be just the needed pressure release valve. Tony Yancey from UCLA, in her book Instant Recess advocates for 10 minute breaks with music and dance, as a way of making active choices, that are natural and breakdown cultural barriers.
Play opens up lots of creative doors for several reasons. One, it is cheap! Whether simply making an unused office space available, or allowing individuals access to a garden area. Nothing pre-arranged, instructed or costly.
Second, it reaches large numbers of individuals. Ciclovía is a program that started in Bogotá, Colombia. This program closes the street to motorized vehicles every Sunday and public holidays. About a million people utilize this program every week to participate in any type of exercise they choose.
Thirdly, as Tony Yancey describes recess breaks down cultural barriers. It provides individuals in a non-competitive environment the chance to interact and socialize. It speaks to individuals that may not either enjoy or excel in sports, an opportunity to participate in creative physical activity.
Passion
“It is very difficult to be well and focused on excellence in lifestyle if you can’t express your talents and passions in some manner.”
Don Ardell, “High Level Wellness: An Alternative to Doctors, Drugs, and Disease.” Ardell’s book is attributed with sparking the wellness movement in 1977.
Can we instill passion into the work environment? Is it possible or is this a complete oxymoron? I think the answer is, it’s worth a try!
One starting place is to tap into employee hobbies and interests. It is widely accepted that individuals participate in activities outside of the workplace. Think of all the church choirs, local bands, bridge groups, bowling associations, Arthur Murray dance studios, painting or pottery groups, opera lovers, book club devotees, gardening clubs, and the list is endless.
It’s time to reassess what gets employees motivated, inspired and more closely aligns the synergies between creative passions and optimal health. Recreational activities that involve hobbies and interests could be easily adapted at minimal cost, possibly even led by employees themselves. Programming that lends itself toward creative interests can also be a bridge into the community.
Companies could partner with arts, music and recreational groups to organize events and classes onsite or at low cost in the community. This helps solidify positive connections between business and community. Moreover, it encourages talents and passions to inspire healthier lives.
Purpose
I think passion and purpose are woven very tightly together. Maybe clarity lies in just being able to ask the right questions, such as what really motivates you? Author Daniel Pink points out in his book Drive, that it is autonomy, mastery and purpose that really motivates us in life.
Pink points out that the desire to do things in service for a larger purpose than ourselves is paramount to higher satisfaction in employees. He also poses some interesting questions on a path toward finding that “inner drive.”
“What do you do for fun ? What would you do for free? What do you do in your spare time? Think about whether you can make a living doing that. What holds people back is that fear of somehow deviating from the path.”
Daniel Pink, Wall Street Journal interview
It seems that having a purpose in life might even be a boon to our mental health.
“Our study showed that people who reported greater purpose in life exhibited better cognition than those with less purpose in life even as plaques and tangles accumulated in their brains”
Patricia A. Boyle, PhD.
Boyle’s research is of course just one study performed by the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center however it offers promise. Intuitively we know purpose is powerful, it’s actually implementing that inherent desire that can be elusive.
Ultimately we all have to decide on a daily basis the answers to powerful questions such as “what is my purpose in life.” My fear is that we deluge ourselves in “busyness” and put off critical thinking on such topics. That requires idle time.
“The space and quiet that idleness provides is a necessary condition for standing back from life and seeing it whole, for making unexpected connections and waiting for the wild summer lightning strikes of inspiration — it is, paradoxically, necessary to getting any work done.”
Tim Kreider “The Busy Trap”
Final Note
At the end of the day I believe as health promotion professionals we can do three simple things to help stimulate play, passion and purpose. And by doing these we accelerate the path towards a more creative and innovative workplace.
- Promote unstructured free recess time during the work week
- Replace sport type activities with creative interests of employees
- Encourage purpose thinking by asking the right questions
Ideas and innovation often come from the most unexpected encounters, chase meetings, a walk around the block, in the shower, or standing at the bus stop. By constantly demanding individuals sit behind desks, starring at computers or hiding in a cubicle at work offers little opportunity for free thinking or open mental space for ideas.
Maybe the answer is even simpler, do less not more. Take something off your calendar, instead of putting it on. Or even more drastic, turn the television or computer off, and go for a walk.
