Creativity is a skill, something that can be practiced, honed, and refined – something I am constantly working on personally and professionally. But surprisingly, my biggest source of practice isn’t work-related at all, but instead comes in the form of Tuesday night Zoom calls with a group of college friends.
Since 2020, this group of friends and I have been playing Dungeons and Dragons together, all sitting in front of our computers on an hour-long Zoom call, catching up and rolling dice. Yes, I know how nerdy this all sounds, but hear me out…
D&D itself is simply a framework – a set of rules that allows game masters and players to collaboratively build a single story, a year’s year-long campaign, or even an entire world through their choices (and of course, the magical powers of fate that come from a 20-sided dice). The only hard and fast rule is that anything is possible, as long as you roll well enough.
Faced with an incredible uphill battle against some mythological creature like a vampire, dragon, or devil? Perhaps you could charm them with your wit, convince them that you’re not the true enemy, sneak around their lair, jumping in and out of their line of sight to create an opening for your allies, or ultimately approach the challenge with brute force.
The possibilities are endless, and practicing the creative thinking that will keep your character and those of your allies safe can turn an encounter that the GM may have thought impossible on its head in a heartbeat.
I’m a firm believer that this type of creative thinking bleeds into our work as communicators, strategists, and advisors. Our motto is “Get To Yes,” and finding ways to overcome obstacles through that lens requires some creative solutions.
The first path to success might not be open for one reason or another. Our team knows that as one path closes, however, another opens, creating new potential and opportunity – as long as we can approach this new challenge from a creative and innovative perspective.
And just like rolling a natural 20 on the dice (look it up), nailing those creative approaches brings a rush to each of us just as much as it does to our clients who benefit.
-Justin Giorgio, VP of Strategic Communications