14 Assumptions block creativity
The Assumptions we make can block our creativity. Often, we may not even realize we are being blocked. The real cost of allowing assumptions to block our creativity is when it blinds us from seeing effective solutions to problems.
Here are three great short videos that illustrate this:
Escalator failure https://youtu.be/ZYexOlC0CXw
Divert your course over!!! I’m a light house over https://youtu.be/fscydKvocrw
Some of the most common assumptions in the workplace, that I have observed, are those that relate to established procedures for doing things that everyone assumes to be the best way. Most times, a little digging discovers that there are better ways to do those tasks but no one had ever challenged the assumption before.
Albert Einstein explained how silly this can be when he said: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
I have experienced this many times and made a career out of making improvements in my workplace.
There are many assumptions that block our creativity. Roger von Oech’s wrote an interesting book called: “A Whack on the Side of the Head”, which had made him a lot of money. In his book, he describes 10 common assumptions that block creativity. You can view a summary of these 10 assumptions here.
What assumptions are blocking your creativity?
View this video presentation below of 25 famous predictions that were made by experts that later proven to be wrong. Look for the assumptions that influenced these experts to make such bad predictions.
25 Famous Predictions That Were Proven To Be Horribly Wrong https://youtu.be/zNxluqQn2_I
View these two videos below about some common misconceptions that you may have. Did you find any surprises there? Why did you make those assumptions?
The key to overcoming the assumptions that block your creativity is to learn to recognize them in your life and have the courage to challenge the assumption. This takes courage and requires you to take a risk, and you may be wrong, but I promise you that the rewards will make it worthwhile.
The best way to challenge assumptions is to ask critical questions. Here is a list of questions that could help you challenge assumptions:
- What are 10 different ways we can do that?
- Why can’t we do it this new way?
- Why have we always done it that way?
- What new approach could help us solve this problem?
- How can we overcome that barrier?
- What new opportunities could this new resource generate?
You also have to be careful about misconceptions. These are assumptions that are based on misleading information. Check out this website about the dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide. Actually, all of the information on site is true as Dihydrogen Monoxide is dangerous, but it is misleading. Can you see the misconceptions and assumptions?
Would you bathe in Dihydrogen Monoxide?
Not sure? Check out this website posted by the Friends of Hydrogen Hydroxide, which is another name for Dihydrogen Monoxide. This second site shares facts in opposition to the warnings of the first website. Often you need to get both sides of the story.
I would take a bath in Dihydrogen Monoxide under the right conditions. Click here to find out why.
Another common misconception is the meaning of very large numbers. Typically once numbers get very large we can no longer comprehend them properly. For example, what is the difference between one hundred dollars, one million dollars, one billion dollars and one trillion dollars?
Do you see why you need to be careful of how your own assumptions can block you from making better choices?
Unfortunately, not everyone that we work with shares this understanding. They may be closed to any attempts to challenge their own assumptions or those of the organization. Have you had experiences dealing with people like this? How did you overcome this? Are you one of these people?
How can you make sure you don’t have any assumptions that are blinding you from being more creative and/or solving problems in your workplace? Or worse, are you letting your assumptions prevent others from being more creative and innovative?
Are you okay with being wrong?
Count how many time the letter “F” appears in the following sentence: “FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS.”
Ask someone else to count the “F”s and see if you agree.
Challenge:
Identify the assumptions that are holding you back from being more creative and describe them to a friend. Then identify how you can overcome these assumptions. Share your progress with a friend.
To live a creative life we must lose our fear of doing wrong. — Joseph Chilton Pearce.
Further readings/viewings:
- 5 Common Logic Traps You May Be Falling For by Emily Guy Birken
- The Gallery of Fake Viral Images by Alex Boese
