How to Kill Creativity

In fact, most people are being squeezed in their little cubicle, and their creativity is forced out elsewhere, because the company can't use it. The company is organized to get rid of variants." Scott Adams

I’ve been sick with flu and pneumonia for the past couple of weeks and haven’t had the energy to do much of anything, including writing here. I’m feeling better now and am starting to feel alive again. My focus this week is creativity because I’m preparing to give a corporate workshop on the topic next week.

Here’s a list I found (author unknown) of phrases that kill creativity:

Our place is different

We tried that before.

It costs too much.

That's not my job.

They're too busy to do that.

We don't have the time.

Not enough help.

It's too radical a change.

The staff will never buy it.

It's against company policy.

The union will scream.

That will run up our overhead.

We don't have the authority.

Let's get back to reality

That's not our problem.

I don't like the idea.

I'm not saying you're wrong but...

You're two years ahead of your time.

Now's not the right time.

It isn't in the budget.

Can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Good thought, but impractical.

Let's give it more thought.

We'll be the laughingstock of the industry.

Not that again.

Where'd you dig that one up?

We did alright without it before.

It's never been tried.

Let's put that one on the back burner for now.

Let's form a committee.

It won't work in our place.

The executive committee will never go for it.

I don't see the connection.

Let's all sleep on it.

It can't be done.

It's too much trouble to change.

It won't pay for itself.

It's impossible.

I know a person who tried it and got fired.

We've always done it this way.

We'd lose money in the long run.

Don't rock the boat.

That's what we can expect from the staff.

Has anyone else ever tried it?

Let's look into it further.

We'll have to answer to the stockholders.

Quit dreaming.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

That's too much ivory tower.

It's too much work.

©2007 Dixie Darr. All rights reserved