Clinical Innovation, Harvard - Six Myths About Physician Creativity

Today I received the March 2008 Harvard Business School Alumni Bulletin. I spent 8 weeks at HBS once – just enough time to make me dangerous. This issue sports an article, “Innovation, Inc.” The article lists six myths about creativity in organizations. These myths apply to physician groups.

• Creativity Comes from Creative Types – Not necessarily. Creativity depends on experience, knowledge, technical skills, talent, and the ability to think in new ways. To encourage creativity in physician groups, appointing a Chief Innovation Officer (a nurse, doctor, practice manager) and holding periodic brain storming sessions may help foster creativity.

• Money is a Creativity Motivator - Money isn’t everything. Most doctors don’t think about money on a day-to-day basis, and it doesn’t drive new ideas.


• Time Pressure Forces Creativity - Actually creativity goes down under pressure. Creativity requires time to think, concentrate on a problem, and let the ideas bubble up.

• Fear Forces Breakthroughs – Not so. Creativity comes when people are excited about their work. Often creativity strikes overnight after an exciting day at the office. One day’s excitement predicts the next day’s creativity.


• Competition Beats Collaboration - Nonsense. The most creative groups are those that share ideas and don’t compete for recognition.

• A Streamlined Organization is a Creative Organization - Not in the opinion of HBS. They say a stable work environment in a group that is doing well fosters a sense of freedom and autonomy and lets ideas flourish.