Why Don’t Kids Run Companies with Andrew Grant (Creativity in Start-ups Series Part 3) - Episode 74

Andrew starts by adding on to the topics of the previous podcasts and how the book and game can be used as a diagnostic tool to try and discover what blocks our creativity. By using a crime scene investigation, he wants users to play detectives to hide behind safe characters to try and work out what the things that block creativity are. He believes that understanding the blockers to creativity is a pre-requisite for creative thinking. Having left the listeners with a question to ponder over: ‘Why are children not CEOs of companies when they are great at creative thinking?’, he answers the same by saying that children might be great at creative thinking but they are not good at critical thinking—a balance of which is needed to run successful businesses. While creative thinking is the thinking we do when we generate ideas, critical thinking is the thinking we do when we judge those ideas. He believes the problem here lies in the fact that not many people have both. Topics Covered - If children are so creative why are they not the CEOs of companies? - The ability to think both creatively and critically. - Connecting two seeming unrelated things to create something that is spectacularly creative. - Prototyping and implementation. - Playing the devils' advocate. - Importance of embracing diversity