A broad canvas: Essential reads on creativity and leadership 

Creativity and Conformity

Clark Moustakas (1967)

American psychologist Clark Moustakas, a leading expert on humanistic and clinical psychology, provides timeless wisdom that addresses the need for creative thinking in overcoming today’s complex social, economic, and technological challenges.

Conveying complex psychological concepts in an accessible and understandable way, Moustakas’s work offers valuable insights for organizational transformation and for leaders to create environments where employees feel empowered to think creatively and challenge the status quo. It also provides a framework for fostering inclusive environments that value diversity of thought and contribute to well-being.

“The essence of creativity lies in the process of bringing something new into being, in the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, and relationships, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, and interpretations.”

This quote encapsulates Moustakas’s perspective on the transformative power of creativity and its essential role in challenging and reshaping societal norms. I highly recommend this book for its profound insights into the balance between societal norms and creative expression. It offers thought-provoking and valuable guidance for fostering innovation and personal growth.

Susan Goldsworthy, Affiliate Professor of Leadership, Communication and Organizational Change.

Your Brain on Art

Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross (2023)

Neuroscientists Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross lead us on a fascinating exploration of how our brains relate to art. There seems to be a growing scientific body of evidence that art has a positive effect on us – offering for example, deeper human experiences and healing. The authors summarize succinctly this recent field of neuro-ascetics: the connection between neuroscience and creativity.

According to the authors, the more we engage our senses, the more new experiences we may have. This concept opens a broader discussion about how to discover different sides of art.

Magsamen and Ross focus on the positive effect of active involvement with art (creating art) and in the arts (appreciating art), naming, for example, competence-building, wellness, and quality of life. Some of us, myself included, take a more focused approach, namely, how art and business might hang together when making business decisions and perhaps even contribute to better decision-making. Let it be said, however, that this important book could also have a clear impact on art collecting for business-enhancing purposes.

Peter Lorange, Professor Emeritus of Strategy and Honorary President of IMD.