By ALEXANDRA LEVIT
Standing out in a crowded marketplace isn?t always easy. And these days, people have seen it all, which means you might only get ahead if you use a compelling and unique approach like Pat Lencioni?s to present your ideas.
Several years ago, Mr. Lencioni, 44 years old, of Lafayette, Calif., was a Bain & Co. consultant who loved writing screenplays and fiction pieces on the side. He didn?t move to Hollywood or New York City to pursue his passion.
Instead, Mr. Lencioni stayed where he was?in the business world?and used his talent to break out of the typical management-consultant mold. He began writing business books that read like novels and featured real characters to which textbook- and theory-fatigued readers could relate. In ?The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,? for example, the fictional DecisionTech?s new CEO, Kathryn, must unite a fractured executive team.
Many say Mr. Lencioni?s parables have sold over 2.5 million copies because they attract people who need to be better managers but don?t want to read a traditional business book to do it. ?The plot-driven approach makes people want to read to the end,? says Mr. Lencioni. ?Readers are also more comfortable passing the books on to friends because they personally enjoyed them and were able to learn without a lot of effort.?
So, how do you infuse your day with creativity if it?s not your natural strong suit?
First, block out some time on your calendar to think about it. When you set aside time to do something, you elevate its importance in your mind.
Practice clearing your head of all of your everyday concerns, turn on some music, and let your mind wander. If you?re having trouble letting go, ask one of your artistic friends what she does to get in the right frame of mind and try adapting that technique to make it your own.
It also helps to look at your life and business from a different perspective. In providing career advice during this recession, for instance, I often pretended I was the person I needed to reach?a reader who was out of work. I asked myself, ?What information do I need right now, and how would I best like to receive it??
If your daily reading consists of one paper or online publication and Google news, you might try expanding your horizons.
In particular, today?s literary fiction and narrative nonfiction books are often worded so eloquently that they can?t help but inspire you to express yourself in a more creative way.
If you read before going to sleep, be sure to keep a pen and a notebook by your bed to jot down ideas that come to you in the middle of the night.
You might also want to start carrying a pad and pencil with you when you commute or travel. Inevitably you?ll overhear or see something that provokes an interesting train of thought.
Mr. Lencioni suggests forcing yourself into an uncomfortable situation to get your mind going?like doing manual labor if you?re a high-ranking executive, for example.
Sometimes just getting out of your comfort zone can spark creative ideas. ?And finally,? he says, ?you have to be willing to throw stupid ideas out [there], or ideas that no one believes in but you.?
Recognize that creativity doesn?t understand deadlines. Because you can?t depend on a terrific idea to show up at a certain point, you might try to build in long timelines for projects that require creative zeal and try not to put a lot of pressure on yourself.
?My best insights don?t usually show up when I?m sitting at my computer waiting for them,? says Mr. Lencioni. ?I?ll usually be jogging or in the shower, or out in the public where my creative mind is stimulated by watching others.?
Once you?ve begun to think more creatively, look for ways to apply this change at work, from suggesting new projects to discussing projects in a new way.
? Alexandra Levit is a business and workplace author and speaker.
Write to Alexandra Levit at reinvent@wsj.com
Source: http://downtowncanyonville.com/using-creativity-to-stand-out-in-your-career
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