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Whether it’s ideating from nothing, feeling pressure to be original or wondering if creativity is something you either have or you don’t, most of us struggle with creativity at some level. However, for today’s guest, to be creative is to be human. Author, speaker and “Creativity Explorer” Fredrik Heron has spent decades helping leaders understand that creativity isn’t about talent or personality: it’s about practice, environment and perspective. GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft sat down with Fredrik to talk about his new book The World of Creativity and together they unpack what it really means to lead creatively—even when the ideas don’t come easily.
INTHIS EPISODE
0:00 Intro
03:30 How did Fredrik become an expert increativity?
05:00 Can everyone be creative?
06:35 How Fredrik defines creativity.
08:55 Why do leaders need to talk about creativity?
10:00 What are the benefits in leaders giving their teams space to maximize their creativity?
11:05 Can you actually “teach” creativity? Or can you only inspire it?
14:30 Fredrik’s new book, and how it came about.
16:00 Are creativity and innovation the same?
19:20 The role curiosity plays in creativity.
20:50 Why are leaders often hesitant to learn from others?
23:15 How tension, friction and curiosity interact in the creative process.
24:00 What Fredrik learned in China.
29:15 Things that inhibit creativity.
30:45 Is there an environment that helps grow creativity more than others?
33:30 Should companies designate time for their people to be creative?
35:20 How to respond when younger team members are pushing for more innovation than might be possible.
39:50 What country surprised Fredrik with its creativity?
42:15 The relationship between creativity and being in a relaxed state.
44:40 Outro
LISTEN
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
STANDOUTSAND TAKEAWAYS
- What’s important is that everyone tries to be more creative, including the super creative people. It’s often more challenging for them.
- Don’t compare your creativity to someone else’s. What’s important is to ask yourself, “Was I more creative today than I was yesterday?”
- Everyone is creative in their own way, and everyone can become more creative.
- Creativity should not be compared to others; the only measure that matters is whether you are more creative than you were yesterday.
- Creativity becomes less intimidating when we understand it as combining existing elements in new ways.
- Creativity is what makes us uniquely human and is one of the deepest sources of joy.
- The process of creating often brings happiness, even more than the outcome itself.
- Because of the speed of change and new technologies, creativity is more essential now than ever.
- Organizations gain a competitive advantage when they use creativity to achieve more with the same resources.
- Inspiration and curiosity are the two primary triggers of creativity.
- Leaders foster creativity not by teaching formulas but by modeling and inspiring creative behavior.
- Storytelling and visible acts of courage from leaders give others permission to be creative.
- Curiosity about other cultures, industries, and perspectives expands creative capacity.
- Leaders should actively seek ideas from outside their own context and adapt them thoughtfully.
- Copying is not the enemy of creativity; the key is “copying right” by building upon what others do well.
- The most powerful creativity often comes from combining the best of different influences into something uniquely your own.
- Bureaucracy and unnecessary rules suffocate creativity within organizations.
- Reducing administrative burdens creates space for innovation and higher-value thinking.
- Many breakthrough ideas emerge when people are relaxed rather than under constant pressure.
- Different individuals have different creative processes, and teams should openly discuss how they generate ideas best.
- Every organization has its own creative DNA, and leaders should identify and cultivate it intentionally.
- Leaders must listen seriously to ideas, even if they ultimately decide not to implement them.
- Creativity is like a muscle—it requires intentional effort, especially as we age.
- Creativity is often a collective effort; breakthrough results rarely come from a single individual alone.
- Leaders should recognize and celebrate those behind the scenes who contribute to creative outcomes.
- There is a difference between routine ideas and breakthrough “divine” ideas, and leaders should create space for both.
- True inspiration leads to action, not just excitement.
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