Creative Problem Solving Institute (CPSI) 2017

Explore a variety of tools for engaging teams and communities in playful movement experiences with clear learning objectives. We will:
• Engage in embodied experiences – individually, in pairs, and in the full group – to improvise and create a composition.
• Explore full-bodied experiences, as well as movement devices for less-courageous movers.
• Focus on fostering immersive play.
Movers of all ages and abilities are welcome, so get out of your head and into your body to discover how you can "move to think" differently! This workshop is led by one of the CPSI 2017 Spotlight presenters.

The fact that we live in an increasingly complex world is undeniable. What is shocking is that most business leaders, according to a global study conducted by IBM, are not confident that they have the skills to lead in times of such unprecedented change. The same 1500-plus executives said creativity skills would be most useful to them as leaders over the next five years. Numerous other reports concur. Creativity and creative thinking are now considered to be core leadership skills. We will examine the important connection between creativity and leadership, as well as examine how well you employ your creative thinking skills in leadership situations. You will:
• Learn about the link between creativity and leadership.
• Recognize how creativity development simultaneously contributes to leadership effectiveness.
• Explore the specific skills, attitudes and behaviors that contribute to creative leadership.
• Analyze how Creative Problem Solving and your own CPS skills play a role in contributing to leadership effectiveness in today’s fast-changing world.

Twyla Tharp is unquestionably one of the most-creative people in the history of modern dance. What makes her choreography so creative? Why is a Twyla Tharp dance recognizable as her work, and why has she been consistently creative through her career? This is a question Tharp has asked herself over many years. You will:
• Discover how Tharp viewed her own creativity to help us become more receptive to our own creative thinking.
• Explore challenging creativity problems and issues with Creative Problem Solving exercises.
• Learn how movement in dance translates to movement in video.

Creativity and conflict exist as realities in our daily lives. They have an implicitly shared identity – one cannot exist without the other. Creativity causes conflict, yet creativity is needed to generate new solutions to existing dilemmas to resolve conflicts. Connections, relationships and ambiguities among and between conflict and creativity will be explored, especially correlations between Creative Problem Solving and conflict resolution. You will:
• Challenge your assumptions and mental models, as both blocks to creativity and causes of conflict.
• Synthesize relationships between your creative attributes and your orientation to conflict.
• Strengthen your active listening and responding skills through small-group discussion and interactions.

Concept blending (aka "Mash-Ups") is at the heart of innovation, or any kind of truly new and different thinking. Blending very different concepts with each other is a type of forced association that can be a highly effective way to get to breakthrough. That's the good news. The bad news is that they are not intuitive to most people and significant mental scaffolding is required for the average ideator. Come to learn how to do this better. You will:
• Learn what a concept blend is and how to do one.
• Learn how to scaffold the thinking of participants to do more effective concept blends.
• Understand how to facilitate concept blends in different situations.

For years, we have measured diversity by counting how many members of target groups were on the roster. What was missing was inclusion – the process of shifting the culture to value a diverse population. With a focus on statistics, those not part of the dominant culture often found themselves on the outside – disengaged and underutilized. If diversity is about numbers, inclusion is about creating an environment where everyone can be a meaningful contributor; a competitive advantage for organizations willing to take the time to do it right. This workshop is for anyone interested in inclusivity; whether looking to expand opportunities for under-served populations, to work on a global stage, or simply to take advantage of diverse work styles. You will:
• Learn what it means to create a culture of inclusion and what the research tells us about why it is important for creativity, innovation and organizational outcomes across the board.
• Learn the building blocks of an inclusive culture – the foundation and the four pillars of success.
• Learn actionable strategies (both short-term and long-range) to help begin (or expand) a journey to inclusion.