THE EMPTY PAGE

In the silence

an empty page; 

poised, listening

unafraid.

Breathing blank slate

yet nothing writ;

extends the mind

tightly knit.

Crowded, crowing

labyrinth noise;

thoughts in turmoil

self-annoyed.

Take the paper

put pen in hand;

on smooth surface

understand.

The want of heart

the rhyme of soul;

silenced wishes

freed control.

Tender, softly

then gaining speed;

inspiration

to succeed.

SOURCES OF INSPIRATION

“The empty page can be an

extension of the mind

onto which we can extract

specific thoughts, images, and ideas

and play with them consciously 

in suspended isolation from other thoughts.”

“The blank page is like

an extra room where

we can go unhindered

by the incessant processing

of the brain.”

“The unmarked page offers both

freedom to create, unfettered;

and space to extract and order.

It’s a container with no boundaries

that holds attention and flows time.”

(UN) INSPIRED … TO DO (LISTS)

In our workplaces, pen and paper writing is so often a simple crutch used for memory retention, such as in the creation of endless “to do” lists for actions we’d like to take in the future (realistic or not). Yet the very act of old school writing - in itself - increases our memory capacity in terms of both quality of memory depth of detail, as well as quantity of units and the number of them remembered.

We are ravenous beasts, hungry for sources of inspiration. Yet, I’m fairly certain they lie not in the proverbial “to do list”. For inspiration, we must shift from left to right brain. That’s why a highly effective way of discovering your inner voice and strengthening your powers of communication is through creative expression.

I have led many wonderful workshops on this topic over the years, whether via journaling, introducing artwork, caricature, or postgraduate thesis ideation. Many of the leadership workshops use art and storytelling as a medium with which to convey complex concepts and new ways of thinking. Moving from left brain to right brain requires finesse, and a few tricks. Left brain does not like to relinquish its tight grip.

Creative work invites self-reflection, the sudden generation of ideas, and the gradual process of long-lasting change. What feels “sudden” is actually the appearance of something which has become visible through the process. What is expressed may have been ruminating for years. 

Creation makes the invisible visible.

INSPIRATION THROUGH DADAISM

Nonetheless, generating the next great idea might not be the problem. You may be overflowing with inspiration, but lack the perspiration to actually follow through and execute. How many people around the Board table have “great ideas” but disappear when it comes time to make them happen? 

Both the responsibility for generating ideas and their actualization can be a recipe for burnout. Thus, the goal of the creative process - and the empty page - may be to help articulate which ideas you want to focus on - and why. And why now? 

It doesn’t require the talent of Duchamps and the Dadaists to include a few sketches, diagrams, squiggles, doodles, or other non-word elements. No one has to see, no one will judge. Even the selection of a colour palette or a set of symbols can help create a visual means of ordering thoughts, tracking progress, or pragmatic prioritization.

And, like Dadaist art,  it doesn’t even have to make sense. Sometimes the unconscious just wants to download the noise. The creative process can help you take the powerful potential of what you are thinking and feeling, and express it in a way that is more visceral, more archetypal and - counter-intuitively - more accessible and understandable.

Life may be art, but business has always been seen as science - and no more so than at the dawn of our AI era and STEM education. Yet the foundation of all art is perception; the ability to observe, to detect similarities and differences, patterns and anomalies over time. And then interpret them in a way that creates both meaning and a conversation between the maker, the made, and the consumer of it (the artist, the art, and the viewer). Big money is paid for big intelligence / BI (business intelligence).

SOURCES OF INSPIRATION

As our perceptions change, so does our capacity for problem-solving. We become able to see things from a variety of points of view. We become more comfortable with conflicting or contrary information, knowing that two or more things can hold true simultaneously. This is a skill sorely missed in our contemporary workplaces. It is just one reason to employ and retain older employees: without the past, you cannot detect a pattern with which to forecast the future.

The art of “storytelling” and the need for it, has crept into even the deepest recesses of scientific blogging. Yet I remember being asked by a team of biologists just 20 years ago “Whatever does that (storytelling) mean?”

So what will it mean for you when you are actually able to connect with the emotional value something holds? When you can really feel, articulate, and describe the outcome and meaning of what you do? 

Fetch an empty page or even an old paper bag, some simple wax crayons, and dollar store paint. Gently but firmly close the door on self-judgment. Let the spirit of Dada surprise you - inspiration can come from an empty page.

About the Author

Anna is an organizational psychologist and executive coach, with a special interest in all things technology. We’re part of the team at Garleff Coaching and Consulting Group. If this article has struck a chord, please let us know.
Anna Garleff Cell: +1 587 224 3793 / anna@garleffcoaching.com
www.garleffcoaching.com