Dr Cathryn Lloyd, How to Shift Your Thinking and Lead a More Creative Life – InnovaBuzz 486
Dr Cathryn Lloyd, Seriously Playful Creativity
In this episode, I’m really excited to have as my guest, Dr. Cathryn Lloyd, Founder and Director of Maverick Minds. Cathryn is a facilitator, educator, researcher, arts practitioner, and creative development coach. She’s Australia’s first certified creativity coach with the Creativity Coaching Association and she provides effective learning experiences for a wide variety of clients.
Cathryn previously appeared on InnovaBuzz Ep 259, where we talked about The intersection between the Arts and Business, harnessing creativity, and building creative leadership in organisations and communities.
Cathryn’s new book “Seriously Playful Creativity” is an A to Z of ideas to help lighten and expand your view of creativity and leading a creative life.
In our discussion, Cathryn and I talked about:
- Creativity as an attitude or mindset
- Putting value on our creativity
- The power of nature, quiet, and reflection for creativity
Listen to the podcast to find out more.
Listen to the Podcast
Creativity exists within us and we need to value it, share it, and nurture it both individually and collectively. @Maverick_Minds on #InnovaBuzz podcast Click To Tweet
Show Notes from this episode with Dr Cathryn Lloyd, author of Seriously Playful Creativity
Key points and takeaways from this episode include:
- How we live our lives and how we show up with other people is the impact that we can all have. We can share the things that bring us joy and inspire others to do the same.
- Our wellbeing is intrinsically linked to the natural world.
- There are different elements and parts to creativity. We can be spontaneous as well as playful and intentional about it.
- Creativity is not just a free for all. It can also be very focused and deliberate.
- We need to create different environments where there is spontaneity and where creativity can be cultivated.
- Creativity exists within us and we need to value it, share it, and nurture it both individually and collectively.
- Our ability to problem solve is in itself a creative way of being.
- We cannot all be an amazing artist but we can hone our creative life and wellbeing in different sorts of ways.
- How we value the unique contribution that each person makes in the world is an important aspect of creativity.
- The more diverse the people around you are, the more creative solutions your organisation can deliver because everyone is going to bring a unique way of perceiving things.
- Honour yourself and the unique contribution that you bring. Be confident in showing it to the world and sharing it with other people. The more that you can tap into and hone those skills, the more you are able to grow your confidence and nurture your creativity in all sorts of ways.
- Creativity is an attitude and a mindset.
- Go out there with your creative ideas. Let the world know about them even though it may seem that no one is listening or no one cares that much.
- Ideas are an expression of you.
- Being resourceful is all about knowing what you have within you. It is having ways of being and working that you can draw on and knowing that you have them available when you need them.
- Play is a big part of learning.
- Experiment! Create some sort of hypothesis about what might be going on and be able to share and explore that. It may or may not be correct, but it gives you the best options of what may come next.
- Curiosity is a huge part of what it means to be living a more creative life.
- Exercise. Go outdoors and be with nature. Be intentional. Allow things to come to you and then let it go to open up the space for what can emerge.
- Just because you are criticising or judging things doesn’t mean you are not creative. Being judgemental is a part of the creative process.
- Great artists and creators follow certain principles and habits for their creative process. Having those structures really help them process their creativity and give attention to it rather than just letting it arrive spontaneously.
- Intuition is part of who we are. We are observing the world all the time and making sense of it.
- Be more playful and experiment. Just because we’re used to doing things in a particular way doesn’t mean it is necessarily the right way. There are multiple ways of doing things.
Creativity is an attitude and a mindset. @Maverick_Minds on #InnovaBuzz podcast Click To Tweet
The Buzz – Our Innovation Round
Here are Cathryn’s answers to the questions of our Innovation round. Listen to the interview to get the full scoop.
- #1 thing to be more innovative – Get a copy of Seriously Playful Creativity.
- Best thing for new ideas – My book. Take some time off, explore, and experiment. Work and collaborate with other people.
- Favourite tool for innovation – Mind maps, reading, and listening to people who talk about creativity.
- Keep project / client on track – Team coaching. Have systems and principles around it and allow the team to explore.
- Differentiate – Value yourself. Understand the things that are valuable to you and present yourself from that way of being.
To Be a Leader
Value your creativity and other people’s creativity, no matter how big or small. Recognise that our creativity is an intrinsic quality and it plays out for each of us every single day. Find things and people that can help spark a different way of thinking.
Reach Out
You can reach out and thank Cathryn through her website and LinkedIn.
Suggested Guest
Cathryn suggested we have a conversation with author, creativity, and change leadership expert, Paulina Larocca. So Paulina, keep an eye on your inbox for an invitation from us to the InnovaBuzz podcast, courtesy of Dr. Cathryn Lloyd.
Links
Books
Cool things about Cathryn
- She’s Australia’s first certified creativity coach with the Creativity Coaching Association
- She’s an associate with Narrative Leadership Associates, a Fellow with the Institute for Learning Professionals ILP, certified Master Facilitator with ILP.
- She’s on the editorial board of the International Journal of Professional Management.
Honour yourself and the unique contribution that you bring. Be confident in showing it to the world and sharing it with other people. @Maverick_Minds on #InnovaBuzz podcast Click To Tweet