The Beatles & Your New Year’s Resolution | A Workplace Blog
Are you in need of a New Year’s Resolution, or a Performance Goal?
If you are as old (mature) as I am, you will remember the craze around a little book by Robert Fulghum entitled All I Really Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten.
Now, we have the 2021 version of that book: The Beatles: Get Back documentary. The documentary itself does not call out or highlight lessons, but you can find tons of social media lists that discuss how this documentary is a playbook for production and creativity.
Turns out, the The Beatles not only Get Back; but they also got your back, too.
Here is a Baker’s dozen on lessons for productivity/creativity/problem solving that you can use for self-reflection.
Take a look at the list, pick one lesson you can improve on, and make it your 2022 Resolution!
1.Wait To Speak.
When brainstorming, one person speaks at a time; listening is more important than speaking.
2. Be Silly.
If you do not speak up with an idea because you are scared of looking stupid or silly, your best ideas will never get put into action.
3. Be Silly (Yes, Again).
Have fun with the people you are collaborating with. Humor only helps productivity – moments of levity can spark creativity.
4. Always Say, “Yes.” Or, Maybe “Yes, And…”
Do not dismiss the ideas of others – especially, if you do not have an alternative idea to suggest. “That is a good idea, and we could also…”
5. Let It Be Go
If you keep bringing up an idea that no one else can embrace, let it go and move onto the next idea. (See me demonstrating silliness here with my word play on a Beatles song?).
6. Do not seek perfection.
Rather than revising and revising and revising until you have the perfect product, just get something going. Build the skateboard, then the bike, then the motorcycle, and then the car.
7. Embrace accidents
(Like Covid?) and build on the directions they take you.
8. Eat and drink.
The science is right. If you do not take time to stay hydrated and fuel your body, your problem solving will suffer.
9. Give credit.
If someone else has the winning idea, give that person their kudos for it.
10. Switch gears.
If something is not coming together, move onto another idea or project and circle back with fresh eyes and thoughts.
11. Try it out.
Even if something does not seem quite right, try it for awhile to confirm it’s not right, or to see how you can improve it.
12. Respect others.
Even if someone in the group is less experienced or seldom speaks up, their perspective is valuable (or even more valuable) for its lens and freshness.
