This weekend I was busy completing a course on creativity in problem solving. I completed it. It was meant to take only about 4 weeks but it took me 6 months. There was no limit of time. In any case I read and think deeply about 90-odd percent of the materials and links they provide. So for me it is not about ‘getting the badge’. In that reading for the course, I came across 18 Habits of Highly Creative people. This really stimulated my thinking and reflection. I also – as I normally do – took loads of notes from the course which I put into a MindManager mindmap, as I had been doing over the months.
Unfortunately I came away from the course more cynical than when I started, about health service issues. The comparison below represents my sentiments, which I ‘hope’ (though I don’t like the word) changes in time.
It is reflection for Pete’s sake – so I’m allowed to generate feelings, which is also part of the creative process. In tight summary, I came away thinking that Highly Creative People (HCP) will perform miserably in public sector health services based on what I know of macro- and micro-cultures across the land.
Oh yes – ‘they’ would say that HCPs are highly valued etc – but unless your name is Rip van Winkle, you shall not be excused for not knowing the doublethink that operates. In disbelief – because I’m nobody – you may jump on the net and find bumf about how creativity and innovation are encourage in public sector health services. Actually, many people don’t even know that even the private sector health services are public sector. What a strange thing to say. It would seem strange because most people do not understand how the two operate in very fluid arrangements between them – both centrally commissioned from the same source of money. I’m not about to lecture on this.
So, was the course a waste of my time? This is a question that would be asked by those who don’t know me. I don’t do things or invest time with ‘organisations’ (or people) at the forefront of my objectives. I do stuff for me! The course improved my knowledge and skills bases. I’ll apply all that wherever/whenever I can in job roles and in personal life.
I was already doing lots of the 18 Habits over the years.
I also had to wonder about if I started talking the concepts I learned, would anybody be on the same page with me? The answer was ‘no’. But even in the odd chance that I’m wrong, I know too well that talk is cheap.
What does it mean?
I can only say what it means to me:
- HCPs are unlikely to gravitate in their numbers to health services.
- Macro- and micro-cultures are unlikely to change.
- Health services are likely to continue wasting money which can causing suffering.
- Courses on creativity, critical thinking and decision-making can assist people to develop.
- Application of that learning can be very difficult in certain environments and cultures.
…
Stupid: So you’re saying that you are a highly creative person? How aloof!
CW: You’re back with your abuse, I see. I am a creative person. My creativity has been either killed off or stifled in a certain environment.
Stupid: Really? And what’s this talk about ‘feelings’? I thought you were trying to be the next Mr Spock.
CW: Nonsense! I have feelings and emotions like everybody else. It is what drives most of my thinking about things. I have written a lot about the pitfalls of ’emotions’ when not balanced or contained by logic. Even Mr Spock in his much later years recognised the value of emotions, and modified his ways.
Stupid: Why are you so aggressive!? So, you’re now an expert on creativity – is that right? Who do you think you are!?
CW: Calm down. I’m not been aggressive to you.
Stupid: You shouted ‘Nonsense!’. How dare you!
CW: You’re displaying behaviours akin to polymorphous crystalline configurations of frozen dihydrogen monoxide.
Stupid: What the hell does that mean?
CW: You’re sounding like generation snowflake. And I’ve not presented myself as an expert on creativity.
Stupid: You’re insulting by calling me ‘snowflake’.
CW: I said you’re sounding like generation snowflake. Right – enough. I’ve had it.
Stupid: Noooooh.. noooo! Stop.
CW: Nope. End of. You’re gone!
Disclaimer & Guidance
The reading of posts on this blog is subject to the Terms & Conditions. Unpalatable truths and personal experiences may be told. Nothing posted on this blog is directed at any identified person. On occasions individuals are quoted anonymously. That does not mean that they have been identified to the world. Should any person or organisation reading this blog find something that makes them feel or know that they are being referred to – any such perceived identification does not mean ‘identified to the world’. ‘Stupid‘ is an impish figment of my imagination who occasionally is allowed to pop up – and does not represent any known individual, individuals or groups. The treatment of ‘Stupid‘ is not representative of the way people are treated in real life. Adverse inferences made are dismissed in advance.
