The Creativity Leap

About the Author

Natalie Nixon is a renowned author, global speaker, and consultant who has dedicated her career to exploring the intersection of creativity, strategy, and innovation. With a background as a professor for 16 years, she transitioned into consulting, founding Figure 8 Thinking, where she helps leaders apply creativity and foresight to achieve transformative business results. Nixon is also the editor of Strategic Design Thinking: Innovation in Products, Services, Experiences, and Beyond and a regular contributor to Inc. magazine.

Main Idea

In The Creativity Leap, Natalie Nixon posits that creativity is not an exclusive trait reserved for artists but a vital competency that everyone can develop. By harnessing curiosity, improvisation, and intuition—key practices she dubs the 3iCreativity™ model—individuals and organizations can unlock their creative potential. Nixon emphasizes the need to balance wonder with rigor, arguing that this dynamic interplay is essential for true innovation. Through real-world examples and practical tools, she provides a roadmap for unleashing creativity in work and life.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Why Creativity Leaps Matter
3. The 3iCreativity™ Model
4. Flow Between Wonder and Rigor
5. Inquire: Ask a Better Friggin’ Question
6. Improvise: Leverage Organized Chaos
7. Intuit: Put Bravery Before Mastery
8. Commune: Come Together to Create
9. Forecast: Amplify What Is Uniquely Human
10. Get Out of the Building: Final Thoughts on Increasing Your CQ

Introduction

The introduction sets the stage by comparing a physical leap to a creativity leap. Nixon explains that both require vision, a running start, the suspension of judgment, and trust in the unknown. A leap propels us forward into new territory, emphasizing the importance of taking risks and embracing uncertainty. She vividly describes how leaps in creativity, much like physical leaps, necessitate a forward motion driven by a clear vision and the courage to overcome barriers.

Why Creativity Leaps Matter

Nixon asserts that creativity is the engine for innovation, vital for crossing boundaries and solving complex problems. She argues that everyone is inherently creative and that honing this competency is essential for personal and organizational success. She introduces the 3iCreativity™ model—Inquiry, Improvisation, and Intuition—as the framework for developing creativity. Nixon highlights that creativity is not just about producing art; it’s about thinking differently in any field, from law to plumbing to design.

"To be human is to be hardwired to be creative." - Natalie Nixon

This quote underscores the universality of creativity. Nixon's argument is that creativity is embedded in our DNA, a fundamental part of being human that can be nurtured and developed through deliberate practice.

The 3iCreativity™ Model

Nixon breaks down the 3iCreativity™ model into its components: