How to build your creative confidence | David Kelley

Summary

In this inspiring talk, the speaker explores the concept of creative confidence, recounting a childhood incident that stifled creativity and reflecting on the impact of fear of judgment. Drawing on psychologist Albert Bandura's 'guided mastery' approach, the speaker illustrates how individuals can overcome creative blocks, leading to personal and professional growth. The transformational journey is exemplified through Doug Dietz's story, showing how empathy and design thinking can revolutionize experiences, even in healthcare. The speaker's own battle with cancer reinforces the message that nurturing creativity is essential for tackling life's challenges and achieving one's goals.

Takeaways

• 😢 Childhood experiences can significantly impact a person's creative confidence, as seen with Brian's story of being discouraged by criticism.
• 🤔 The fear of judgment often leads people to opt out of considering themselves creative, which can persist into adulthood.
• 🔍 Workshops and collaborative environments can expose the discomfort of executives when faced with unconventional or creative tasks.
• 📱 The avoidance of creative challenges is exemplified by executives making excuses to leave when creativity is required.
• 💡 Persistence in creative processes can lead to surprising innovation and the realization of one's own creative potential.
• 🧐 The fear of judgment can be overcome by guided mastery, a process developed by psychologist Albert Bandura.
• 🐍 Bandura's method of curing phobias through gradual exposure and comfort-building can be applied to overcoming creative inhibitions.
• 💪 The concept of 'self-efficacy' introduced by Bandura refers to the belief in one's ability to achieve goals and overcome challenges.
• 🎨 The story of Doug Dietz illustrates how empathy and design thinking can transform a technical product into a positive, child-friendly experience.
• 🏥 Dietz's redesign of the MRI machine experience dramatically reduced the need for sedation in pediatric patients, showcasing the power of creative problem-solving.
• 💖 Personal transformation stories, like Dietz's, highlight the emotional impact of creative solutions and the joy of overcoming challenges.
• 🌟 The speaker's personal battle with cancer led to a commitment to helping others regain their creative confidence, emphasizing the importance of creativity in life's purpose.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the talk about creative confidence?

The main theme of the talk is the exploration of how people lose their creative confidence, especially during childhood, and how it can be regained through a process of guided mastery, leading to personal and professional transformation.

What incident from the speaker's third grade is mentioned to illustrate the loss of creative confidence?

The incident mentioned is when the speaker's friend Brian was making a horse out of clay, and a girl criticized his work, causing him to lose confidence and never engage in a similar creative project again.

How do people often react when they are in a creative process that becomes unconventional or fuzzy?

People, especially executives, often feel uncomfortable and may excuse themselves by claiming they have to make important phone calls, indicating their discomfort with the creative process when it becomes unconventional.

What does the speaker suggest is the common excuse given by people when they avoid creative tasks?

The common excuse given by people is that they are 'not the creative type,' which the speaker argues is not true as they can achieve creativity if they stick with the process.

Who is Albert Bandura and what significant contribution does he make in the talk?

Albert Bandura is a renowned psychologist known for his work on phobias and the concept of 'guided mastery.' His methodology of curing phobias in a short time is used as a metaphor for regaining creative confidence.

What is the term used by Albert Bandura to describe the process of overcoming fears and gaining confidence?

The term used by Albert Bandura is 'guided mastery,' which involves a step-by-step process that helps individuals overcome their fears and gain confidence in their abilities.

What is the concept of 'self-efficacy' as explained by Bandura?

'Self-efficacy' is the confidence in one's ability to change the world and achieve what one sets out to do, which is gained through overcoming challenges and mastering new skills.

How does the story of Doug Dietz illustrate the transformation that can occur when someone gains creative confidence?

Doug Dietz, a designer of medical imaging equipment, used his newfound creative confidence to redesign the MRI scanning experience for children, turning a fearful procedure into an adventure and significantly reducing the need for sedation.

What was the turning point for Doug Dietz that led to his redesign of the MRI machine?

The turning point for Doug Dietz was when he witnessed a young girl's fear and tears while using his MRI machine, realizing that nearly 80 percent of pediatric patients needed to be sedated due to the machine's design.

What personal experience did the speaker share that motivated him to focus on helping people regain creative confidence?

The speaker shared his experience of being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment, which led him to reflect on his life's purpose and commit to helping people regain their creative confidence.

What is the speaker's ultimate goal or 'change-the-world' idea?

The speaker's ultimate goal is to help as many people as possible regain their creative confidence, enabling them to work on important projects, make better decisions, and achieve self-efficacy.