Splitting the atom is easier than inducing creativity and innovation in the workplace

According to Bill Bryson in his excellent book, "A short history of nearly everything", "Because neutrons have no charge, they aren't repelled by the electrical fields at the heart of an atom and thus could be fired like tiny torpedoes into an atomic nucleus, setting off the destructive process known as fission."

Neutrons are what split the atom and the process is bears some resemblance to the creative process in any company. The one critical difference between creative catalysts and neutrons is the consistency of the electrical field. Different companies have different force fields and within the same company the force field can change daily or even hourly.

The analogy with creative catalysts is an instructive one as there must be a certain buy in by a company before creative catalysts can actually get to work. Without this buy in they are repelled by the conservative electrical fields that dominate and control business.

Being repelled by a force field around the client is extremely challenging and can lead to exponential increases in creativity and innovation as the catalysts strive to gain access.

Once some neutrons have made it through, their incoming brethren split more atoms and raise the fission effect exponentially with the result that the force caused by splitting atoms eventually reaches a critical mass and you have the bomb.

This is theoretically what can occur on any given day in any given company. The only obstacle remains the permission of the gate keepers and they hold on very tightly to their domain.

Creativity and innovation are funny things, most companies don't have them but those that do stand out from the crowd. Funky and vibey media presence, new technology and products that rollout ahead of competitors, employees that do not look like they are attending a funeral when they arrive at the office and many other small clues that all add up.

Just because the catalysts make it past the gate keepers doesn't mean that critical mass will follow automatically but if no catalysts make it past the electric force field than no atom splitting creativity is ever going to happen. Being a good catalyst means outwitting and out thinking the company gate keepers and that takes mucho creativity, innovation and chutzpah.

The unsung catalysts are those in house that do it without thinking about it or really understanding what they are doing and those are the ones that business always takes advantage of. The creative process is an ongoing and dynamic one with goal posts shifting and angles changing as perspectives change when they are challenged.

The essence of the creative process is not as scientific as splitting the atom. Achieving creative, critical mass can sometimes be fleeting and only when there is follow through and implementation can the moment stand out.

It will also be remembered by the gate keepers who then apply their minds to plugging the flaw in their defenses in readiness for the next engagement.