Email: Creativity contests at work, but not much success in new ideas. (HK)
Sometimes, a heightened sense of competition can override the innovation effect. Increases stress which impedes performance. Thinking about others who are vying for a prize diminishes our belief that we can win it ourself, diluting incentive. We may tend to view competitor submissions not as a source of inspiration & motivation, but as a constraint on our own thinking. The creative process requires disinhibition & a free-flowing stream of ideas & insights.
Often, creativity comes naturally, when we aren’t actively seeking it. Phrases like ‘only the best idea wins’ & ‘compete against others’ aren’t always helpful in innovation. Counter-intuitively, we can turn down the competitive element to generate the best results.