I was just rereading a BBC News interview with REM’s Michael Stipe and was struck once again by the elements and process of creativity that led to the band’s success.
Michael Stipe was brought up in a family with no specific interest in music. He was never exposed to a broad range of sounds. In fact the music his parents played when he was young was limited and often repeated.
So there was no priming here in terms of Michael’s future career in music. He was a blank page if you will.
And then came the random input – the ‘Inspiration’ – when he heard tracks on the radio ranging from Tammy Wynette to the Soundtrack of Disney’s movie ‘The Parent Trap’. And above all Elton John’s ‘Benny and The Jets.’ This eclectic mix of music sparked a flame of musical creativity in Michael Stipe that started him on his journey into pop stardom. And it’s input like this that can spark anyone’s creativity – unexpected, eclectic and not deadline driven!
Michael Stipe wasn’t an expert either. Far from it. He didn’t know the difference between a bass and a lead guitar until REM’s second album. So there goes the need for any of us to be experts in the field we choose to create in!
So then we might say, but I don’t ‘feel’ like I’m creative? Just don’t believe it. Well Michael Stipe didn’t exactly feel it either – until he got up on stage and sang and realised the audience were not only buying it but enjoying it. And because they were enjoying it, he began to believe it and so began the Confidence Loop. It’s like any pitch or ‘Presentation’ - if you don’t feel it – ‘act as if’ until you do.
REM were also brilliant at understanding that different band members had different strengths. Michael Stipe would write songs and become too attached to them to be able to edit them down, but realised that Pete Buck had the talent to do that for him. The band used this team knowledge to constantly strive for the best they could do. A great example of team ‘Collaboration.’
And key to REM’s success was not only the ability to celebrate their successes but also to accept, embrace and learn from their failures. Something so many people and organisations find a challenge yet so fundamental to personal creativity and organisational innovation.
But above all in my opinion is Michael Stipe’s desire, will and ‘Motivation’ to create and perform music. This beyond anything else, I would argue, is the key ingredient for creativity. That fundamental, intrinsic desire to create. To innovate. And if you, your people, your organisation has that – you’re in a very exciting place in terms of creativity and innovation. With that energy to harness, the sky is the limit. And that’s why we at 4D work with values and drives based Integral Creativity.
You can have all the PowerPoints, Strategies and Tools in the world - just like Michael Stipe could in theory have had musical parents, guitar lessons and a career plan – but without energy and motivation a hundred tools, days of PowerPoint slides and reams of strategy won’t make it happen.
So Motivation, Inspiration, Collaboration and then the Presentation of getting up, (acting ‘as if’ if necessary) and sharing your creation with the world (or the board). The vital ingredients.
And even if you don’t have a clear plan….just start creating. See where it takes you…Madison Square Gardens, Wembley, you never know…REM never had any goals!
Philippa
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