Finding creativity in our work is closely connected to the concept of ‘flow’.
Don’t be put off by the clichés about creativity. How many times have you been in a brainstorm meeting and been told to “Think outside the box”, or “Push the envelop”?
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s famous investigations of “optimal experience” have revealed that what makes an experience genuinely satisfying is a state of consciousness called flow.
Flow is the state of existence when a person performing an activity is totally immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment. In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does.
We hope to find this in all aspects of our lives, especially in our work. “Flow happens when a person’s skills are fully involved in overcoming a challenge that is just about manageable, so it acts as a magnet for learning new skills and increasing challenges. If challenges are too low, one gets back to flow by increasing them. If challenges are too great, one can return to the flow state by learning new skills.”
Quote from a review of Finding Flow in Psychology Today, last reviewed June 14, 2012, www.psychologytoday.com/articles/199707/ finding-flow
Finding flow at work can be enhanced
“First, establish priorities among the demands that crowd into consciousness. Successful people often make lists or flowcharts of all the things they have to do, and quickly decide which tasks they can delegate or forget, and which ones they have to tackle personally, and in what order. The next step is to match one’s skills with whatever challenges have been identified. There will be tasks we feel incompetent to deal with. Can you learn the skills required in time? Can you get help? Can the task be transformed or broken into simpler parts? Usually the answer to one of these questions will provide a solution that transforms a potentially stressful situation into a flow experience.”
Quote from a review of Finding Flow in Psychology Today, last reviewed June 14, 2012, www.psychologytoday.com/articles/199707/ finding-flow
How does it feel to be in flow?
Author Csikszentmihalyi says we know we are in the ‘flow when:
· We are completely involved in what we are doing — focused and concentrated
· We have a sense of ecstasy and of being outside everyday reality
· We experience great inner clarity and we know what needs to be done and how well we are doing
· We know that the activity is doable and that our skills are adequate to the task
· We have a sense of serenity with no worries about ourselves and a feeling of growing beyond the boundaries of the ego
· We experience timelessness and are thoroughly focused on the present, the hours seem to pass by in minutes
· Intrinsic motivation means that whatever produces flow becomes its own reward.
Find Out More About Flow
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has delivered some great TED talks
To review ‘Flow, the secret to happiness’ go to www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_on_flow
Don’t be put off by the clichés about creativity. How many times have you been in a brainstorm meeting and been told to “Think outside the box”, or “Push the envelop”?
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s famous investigations of “optimal experience” have revealed that what makes an experience genuinely satisfying is a state of consciousness called flow.
Flow is the state of existence when a person performing an activity is totally immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment. In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does.
We hope to find this in all aspects of our lives, especially in our work. “Flow happens when a person’s skills are fully involved in overcoming a challenge that is just about manageable, so it acts as a magnet for learning new skills and increasing challenges. If challenges are too low, one gets back to flow by increasing them. If challenges are too great, one can return to the flow state by learning new skills.”
Quote from a review of Finding Flow in Psychology Today, last reviewed June 14, 2012, www.psychologytoday.com/articles/199707/ finding-flow
Finding flow at work can be enhanced
“First, establish priorities among the demands that crowd into consciousness. Successful people often make lists or flowcharts of all the things they have to do, and quickly decide which tasks they can delegate or forget, and which ones they have to tackle personally, and in what order. The next step is to match one’s skills with whatever challenges have been identified. There will be tasks we feel incompetent to deal with. Can you learn the skills required in time? Can you get help? Can the task be transformed or broken into simpler parts? Usually the answer to one of these questions will provide a solution that transforms a potentially stressful situation into a flow experience.”
Quote from a review of Finding Flow in Psychology Today, last reviewed June 14, 2012, www.psychologytoday.com/articles/199707/ finding-flow
How does it feel to be in flow?
Author Csikszentmihalyi says we know we are in the ‘flow when:
· We are completely involved in what we are doing — focused and concentrated
· We have a sense of ecstasy and of being outside everyday reality
· We experience great inner clarity and we know what needs to be done and how well we are doing
· We know that the activity is doable and that our skills are adequate to the task
· We have a sense of serenity with no worries about ourselves and a feeling of growing beyond the boundaries of the ego
· We experience timelessness and are thoroughly focused on the present, the hours seem to pass by in minutes
· Intrinsic motivation means that whatever produces flow becomes its own reward.
Find Out More About Flow
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has delivered some great TED talks
To review ‘Flow, the secret to happiness’ go to www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_on_flow
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