Ways to Encourage Creativity in Science Collaborations

The more mistakes a team makes, the more quickly they learn and more resilient they become… yet so many of the teams I work with are terrified of making a mistake! They have so much on their plates that they’re singularly focused on crossing things off their lists so the thought of experimenting with a new approach and having to redo it is soul-crushing. OR They’re operating within a prove-your-worth culture in which mistakes are attributed to personal failure and incompetence. OR There is no appetite for risk and the only acceptable way of working is to do things the way they’ve always been done. OR any number of other reasons top performers make themselves small instead of taking a risk that could be a win. This is bad for business. And for morale. When mistakes are seen as part of the process, teams feel safer taking risks, which leads to creative solutions and faster progress. Leaders need to focus on 3 things to encourage experimentation so their teams will risk making mistakes in pursuit of a win: 𝟭. 𝗙𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲-𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 When we meet failures with compassion, we soften the emotional blow and decouple it from identity. With compassion, the individual is not a failure (fixed mindset)… they’re an innovator who tried something that failed (growth mindset). ❇ Tip: Normalize mistakes and conversations about mistakes by conducting regular retros for missteps, large and small. Emphasize the key learnings and takeaways, not the flawed logic or approach. No blame, no ego threat, no identity crisis, no problem trying it again another way. 𝟮. 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 When learning is valued over perfection, teams are more willing to experiment, try new approaches, and push boundaries. ❇ Tip: Reinforce growth mindset as a core cultural tenet. Encourage team members to set personal development goals and allocate a budget to it. Even a small contribution can have symbolic & cultural value. Reward effort and improvement, not just outcomes and encourage voluntary share-outs or team-wide trackers. 𝟯. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Experimentation increases both the absolute number of failures and the failure rate. AND Done with systems, strategy and intention, it also accelerates growth, discovery and successful solutions. Establishing a system for experimentation allows teams to test ideas in controlled, low-risk environments where failure is seen as a step toward success. ❇ Tip: Implement a process for innovation sprints in which team members are encouraged to suggest & test bold ideas with clear guidelines on how to analyze & iterate based on the outcomes. These shifts to culture and process can have a massive impact. Teams that are encouraged to make mistakes ✔ learn more quickly, ✔ are more resilient and ✔ are more likely to take smart risks that can lead to sustainable, step function success.

I've been doing some thinking about the role of diversity in boosting creativity within leadership. I've had the opportunity to lead several diverse teams over the years, and the benefits are unmistakable. How has assembling and leading diverse teams worked for you and your organization? Here are some of my observations I'd like to share: 🔹 Invite Multiple Perspectives: When I've led diverse teams, I've always been amazed at the variety of ideas that come to the table. Different viewpoints often mean fresh ideas that no one's thought of yet. 🔹 Establish Open Communication: It's essential to create a space where everyone can voice their opinions. In my teams, I've found that structured meetings with time for open dialogue ensure that everyone gets heard. 🔹 Question the Norm: I've noticed that having diverse viewpoints often leads us to challenge conventional ways of thinking. This kind of environment often yields creative and out-of-the-box solutions. 🔹 Facilitate Constructive Feedback: One of the best things about leading a diverse team is that everyone brings something unique to the table. Encouraging constructive feedback from various angles really helps to refine ideas and make them better. 🔹 Celebrate and Learn: Whether it's a success or a learning opportunity, taking the time to recognize the contributions of team members can really lift spirits. It also sets the stage for future collaboration and creativity. 🔹 Adapt Problem-Solving Methods: A diverse team often has multiple ways to solve problems. In my experience, being flexible in problem-solving approaches has helped us to tackle challenges more effectively. 🔹 Keep an Eye on Dynamics: Leading a diverse team means you have to be conscious of the dynamics and be willing to adapt. For me, this involves regular check-ins to see how everyone is feeling about the group's direction and dynamics. 🔹 Training and Development: I've found that investing in team training that focuses on leveraging diversity for creativity pays dividends. It equips everyone with the skills needed to contribute meaningfully. "Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved." - Mattie Stepanek Do you have experiences or strategies to share for leveraging diversity for creativity in team leadership? Let's keep this conversation going. #LeadershipDiversity #TeamCreativity #OpenCommunication #ChallengeTheNorm #EffectiveLeadership

Three simple words can unlock a world of possibilities when you or your team get stuck on solving a problem: “How might we” I’ve found this to be a great tool when leading team meetings or solving stuck points with founders. Framing the conversation around questions like this can unlock creative solutions when no “obvious” solutions exist. Here’s why this works: 1. “How” signals we’re in exploration mode. It reinforces that we don’t have all the answers yet, encouraging multiple, innovative approaches. 2. “Might” suggests flexibility, that there are many paths to explore without committing to one fixed solution. 3. “We” brings in the collective mind. It shifts from individual problem-solving to the inclusive, shared responsibility of the group mind. Start with these simple swaps: “What should I do?” → “How might we…?” “I have no idea.” → “How might we…?” “I’m not sure how to get past this.” → “How might we…?” And some helpful guard rails: - Keep your HMW questions specific to the problem. - Stay broad enough to inspire multiple ideas. - Keep it positive to spark more possibilities. As a leader, I've found that using inclusive, positive language in business discussions where we need to get through a block can help liberate team creativity. Tough love can also help. Making a conscious effort to modulate your language in this way can help move your team past creative impasses and build more positive workspaces.