Table Of Content(cid:2)
TrimSize:6inx9in Roberto545798 ffirs.tex V1-02/28/2019 1:07pm Pagei
“Professor Michael Roberto has done us a great favor in unmasking barriers to creativity
inorganizations.Companiesdon’tlackcreativepeople;rather,theystiflecreativitythrough
whatRobertocallsoutdatedmindsets.Overcomethose,andcreativepeoplewillflourish.
Everyleaderandmanagershouldreadthisimportantbooktounleashthecreativeenergyin
theirorganizations.”
—MortenHansen–AuthorofGreatatWork,andProfessor,
UniversityofCalifornia–Berkeley
“Creativityisthecornerstoneofdisruptivesuccesstoday,andRoberto’sgeniusliesinpre-
sentingitnotasapre-ordainedtrait,butonewhichanyonecanlearn.Througharichweb
ofstories,Robertogivesyouasystemtofosterthebeginner’smind,createanenvironment
ofcuriosity,vision,andexploration,andunleashthecreativepotentialwithinyourselfand
yourteam.”
—Dr.DarriaLongGillespie–EmergencyPhysician,
CNNMedicalExpert,&AuthorofMomHacks
“Organizationsofeverykindmorethaneverneedtofindwaystobecreativeandinnovative.
Inthisnewbookfullofinsightsandilluminatingexamples,MichaelRobertoshowshow
leaderscanrisetothechallenge.”
—DanielDiermeier–Provost,TheUniversityofChicago
(cid:2) (cid:2)
“Withtheexponentialdevelopmentofartificialintelligenceandrobotics,acompany’sdigital
transformationultimatelyrequiresemployees’transformation.UnlockingCreativityisamust-
readforallbusinessleaders,inJapanandbeyond.Itprovidesagreatguidepostforunleashing
employees’creativity.”
—ShingoKonomoto–President&CEO,NomuraResearchInstitute
“MichaelRobertohasnailedittothewallinUnlockingCreativity.Michael’sgiftofstorytelling
bringtolifethemostcriticalattributethatweneedintodays’competitivelandscape–creative
talent.Anessentialreadforanyorganizationseekingexponentialbreakoutgrowth.”
—JamesBrady–ChiefOperatingOfficer,GrantThornton
“Theinnovationandgrowthenginesoftoday’sorganizationsdependmorethaneveronnur-
turingthecreativeprocess.Throughtheuseofinspiring,engagingandrelatableexamples,
whichrangefromDisneytotheFooFighters,Robertohelpsusinternalizecommonmind-
setsthatblockthecreativeprocess.Byemphasizingtheimportanceofdesigningworkfor
creativity to establishing a brain trust, he provides leaders with a thoughtful playbook and
practicalinsightsforhowtobreakfreefromstiflingmindsetstounleashthecreativeprocess
intheirteams.”
—HeideAbelli–SeniorVicePresident,
ProductManagement,Skillsoft
(cid:2)
(cid:2)
TrimSize:6inx9in Roberto545798 ffirs.tex V1-02/28/2019 1:07pm Pageii
“Thisisagreatfoundationalbookforanyonethinkingaboutshiftingthecultureattheirorga-
nization and viewing it from a different perspective. Through Michael Roberto’s research
ofindividualsandcompaniesandhisdesignthinkingrecommendations,leaderswillexplore
newwaystotapintothecreativityoftheprofessionalswithwhomtheywork.”
—RobertDiMuccio–Chairman,PresidentandCEO,Amica
MutualInsuranceCompany
“MichaelRobertohasdoneityetagain.InUnlockingCreativity,heweaveshumor,history,
and research together into an enjoyable read, but more importantly a useful reference for
allleaders.Hechallengesmanyofourlong-held,yetinvalid,beliefswhileprovidingsound
guidanceforinnovatorseverywhere.”
—JDSchramm–MBAClassof1978LecturerinOrganizational
Behavior,StanfordUniversityGraduateSchoolofBusiness
(cid:2) (cid:2)
(cid:2)
(cid:2)
TrimSize:6inx9in Roberto545798 ffirs.tex V1-02/28/2019 1:07pm Pageiii
U N L O C K I N G
Creativity
HOW TO SOLVE ANY PROBLEM
AND MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS
BY SHIFTING CREATIVE MINDSETS
(cid:2) (cid:2)
Michael A. Roberto
(cid:2)
(cid:2)
TrimSize:6inx9in Roberto545798 ffirs.tex V1-02/28/2019 1:07pm Pageiv
Copyright©2019byJohnWiley&Sons,Inc.Allrightsreserved.
PublishedbyJohnWiley&Sons,Inc.,Hoboken,NewJersey.
PublishedsimultaneouslyinCanada.
Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmittedinanyform
orbyanymeans,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording,scanning,orotherwise,exceptas
permittedunderSection107or108ofthe1976UnitedStatesCopyrightAct,withouteitherthe
priorwrittenpermissionofthePublisher,orauthorizationthroughpaymentoftheappropriate
per-copyfeetotheCopyrightClearanceCenter,Inc.,222RosewoodDrive,Danvers,MA01923,
(978)750–8400,fax(978)646–8600,orontheWebatwww.copyright.com.Requeststothe
PublisherforpermissionshouldbeaddressedtothePermissionsDepartment,JohnWiley&Sons,Inc.,
111RiverStreet,Hoboken,NJ07030,(201)748–6011,fax(201)748–6008,oronlineathttp://
www.wiley.com/go/permissions.
LimitofLiability/DisclaimerofWarranty:Whilethepublisherandauthorhaveusedtheirbestefforts
inpreparingthisbook,theymakenorepresentationsorwarrantieswithrespecttotheaccuracyor
completenessofthecontentsofthisbookandspecificallydisclaimanyimpliedwarrantiesof
merchantabilityorfitnessforaparticularpurpose.Nowarrantymaybecreatedorextendedbysales
representativesorwrittensalesmaterials.Theadviceandstrategiescontainedhereinmaynotbe
suitableforyoursituation.Youshouldconsultwithaprofessionalwhereappropriate.Neitherthe
publishernorauthorshallbeliableforanylossofprofitoranyothercommercialdamages,including
butnotlimitedtospecial,incidental,consequential,orotherdamages.
Forgeneralinformationonourotherproductsandservicesorfortechnicalsupport,pleasecontactour
CustomerCareDepartmentwithintheUnitedStatesat(800)762–2974,outsidetheUnitedStatesat
(cid:2) (317)572–3993orfax(317)572–4002. (cid:2)
Wileypublishesinavarietyofprintandelectronicformatsandbyprint-on-demand.Somematerial
includedwithstandardprintversionsofthisbookmaynotbeincludedine-booksorin
print-on-demand.IfthisbookreferstomediasuchasaCDorDVDthatisnotincludedinthe
versionyoupurchased,youmaydownloadthismaterialathttp://booksupport.wiley.com.Formore
informationaboutWileyproducts,visitwww.wiley.com.
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Names:Roberto,MichaelA.,author.
Title:Unlockingcreativity:howtosolveanyproblemandmakethebest
decisions/MichaelA.Roberto.
Description:Hoboken,NewJersey:JohnWiley&Sons,Inc.,[2019]|Includes
bibliographicalreferencesandindex.|
Identifiers:LCCN2018043694(print)|LCCN2018045131(ebook)|ISBN
9781119545767(AdobePDF)|ISBN9781119545835(ePub)|ISBN9781119545798
(hardcover)
Subjects:LCSH:Creativeabilityinbusiness.|Creativethinking.|Decision
making.|Problemsolving.
Classification:LCCHD53(ebook)|LCCHD53.R5962019(print)|DDC
658.4/03—dc23
LCrecordavailableathttps://lccn.loc.gov/2018043694
COVERDESIGN:PAULMcCARTHY
COVERIMAGE:©GETTYIMAGES:CLASSENRAFAEL/EYEEM
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
10987654321
(cid:2)
(cid:2)
TrimSize:6inx9in Roberto545798 ffirs.tex V1-02/28/2019 1:07pm Pagev
To all my teachers from childhood, who stimulated my curiosity and creativity,
and most especially to Kristin, the most caring and dedicated elementary school
teacher from whom a child could learn.
(cid:2) (cid:2)
(cid:2)
(cid:2)
TrimSize:6inx9in Roberto545798 ffirs.tex V1-02/28/2019 1:07pm Pagevi
(cid:2) (cid:2)
(cid:2)
(cid:2)
TrimSize:6inx9in Roberto545798 ftoc.tex V1-11/12/2018 2:46pm Pagevii
CONTENTS
Preface ix
Chapter 1 The Resistance to New Ideas 1
Chapter 2 The Linear Mindset 21
Chapter 3 The Benchmarking Mindset 43
Chapter 4 The Prediction Mindset 67
(cid:2) (cid:2)
Chapter 5 The Structural Mindset 87
Chapter 6 The Focus Mindset 113
Chapter 7 The Naysayer Mindset 137
Chapter 8 Leader as Teacher 159
Resources 179
Acknowledgments 181
About the Author 185
Index 187
vii
(cid:2)
(cid:2)
TrimSize:6inx9in Roberto545798 ftoc.tex V1-11/12/2018 2:46pm Pageviii
(cid:2) (cid:2)
(cid:2)
