Teamcast S2 Ep3 Creativity within Mission Critical Teams
Ben Pronk, former Australian SAS officer turned managing partner and artist, and Professor Kate Stevens, cognitive scientist studying perception and human-technology interaction, discuss creativity in high-pressure teams. They explore embodied improvisation, team coordination like musical ensembles, training creativity with body-storming and deliberate practice. The conversation touches on arts for recovery, selection traits that support creativity, and practical small practices to build creative habits.
01:35:09
Creativity As Coping In Deployments
- Ben observes creativity often rises in high-pressure deployments as people seek to create beauty amid destruction.
- He proposes creativity can be a coping mechanism and social outlet during operations.
Personality Traits And Creative Capacity
- Kate links personality traits like openness and empathy to artistic engagement, while cautioning about causality.
- She stresses attentional flexibility and discipline also underpin creative performance.
Use Grit To Grow Creative Skill
- Ben highlights conscientiousness and deliberate practice (grit) as essential to developing creative and skilled judgment.
- He connects thousands of hours of practice to rapid, expert perception in teams and individuals.
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Intro
00:00 • 7min
Ben's creative origins and learning art
07:00 • 4min
Creativity, coping and cognitive transfer
10:39 • 3min
Kate's musical upbringing and research focus
13:28 • 2min
Improvisation, ensembles and social creativity
15:41 • 1min
Parallels between teams and performance ensembles
16:58 • 1min
Defining creativity and its continuum
18:02 • 2min
Evolutionary roots of music and movement
20:28 • 2min
Emergence, societal adoption and resistance
22:44 • 2min
Social meaning-making and arts as notation
25:01 • 2min
Brain processes: prediction, surprise and humour
26:40 • 5min
Can creativity be trained in operators?
32:04 • 4min
Selection for creativity in mission teams
35:47 • 5min
Personality links: openness, empathy, conscientiousness
40:30 • 5min
Synesthesia, multimodality and embodied listening
45:50 • 7min
Training creativity for team performance
52:46 • 6min
Creative practice supports emotion regulation
58:35 • 4min
Practical tasks: alternative uses and body-storming
01:02:58 • 4min
Value of breadth and 'latticework' of models
01:06:33 • 5min
Psychedelics, inhibition and creative states
01:11:07 • 3min
Neuroscience of music and reward
01:13:44 • 1min
Arts in recovery and identity rebuilding
01:15:04 • 2min
Research evidence for arts therapies emerging
01:17:33 • 4min
Applying creativity deliberately in teams
01:21:09 • 3min
Practical takeaways: start small and practice
01:24:12 • 6min
Personal recommendations and listening picks
01:30:15 • 4min
Outro
01:34:33 • 42sec
#39780
Osborn's Brain
Anne Osborn
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#88227
Elizabeth Macarthur
Michelle Scott Tucker
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#91
• Mentioned in 188 episodes
Outliers
The Story of Success
Malcolm Gladwell
In 'Outliers: The Story of Success', Malcolm Gladwell examines the often-overlooked factors that contribute to high levels of success.
He argues that success is not solely the result of individual talent or hard work, but rather is influenced by a complex web of advantages and inheritances, including cultural background, family, generation, and luck.
The book delves into various examples, such as the success of Bill Gates, the Beatles, and Canadian ice hockey players, to illustrate how these factors play a crucial role.
Gladwell also discusses the '10,000-hour rule' and the impact of cultural legacies on behavior and success.
The book is divided into two parts: 'Opportunity' and 'Legacy', each exploring different aspects of how success is achieved and maintained.
#164
• Mentioned in 132 episodes
How to Change Your Mind
What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence
Michael Pollan
In this book, Michael Pollan delves into the history of psychedelic drugs, from their rise in the 1960s to their current resurgence in medical research.
He combines historical and scientific analysis with personal narratives of his own experiences with psychedelics, such as LSD and psilocybin.
The book explores how these substances are being used to treat conditions like depression, addiction, and anxiety, and discusses their potential to revolutionize our understanding of the human mind and consciousness.
Pollan's work is a blend of science, memoir, and travel writing, offering a nuanced and engaging look at the therapeutic and spiritual benefits of psychedelics.
#1679
• Mentioned in 25 episodes
The Brain That Changes Itself
Norman Doidge
This book challenges the traditional view that the brain is fixed and unchangeable.
Norman Doidge presents case studies and scientific research that demonstrate the brain's ability to reorganize itself in response to injury, learning, and experience.
The book covers various aspects of neuroplasticity, including recovery from brain damage, treatment of mental disorders, and the impact of culture and education on brain development.
Doidge's work highlights the potential for brain change and its implications for human nature and potential.
#57
• Mentioned in 238 episodes
Range
Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
David Epstein
In this book, David Epstein examines the success of generalists in various fields, including sports, arts, music, invention, forecasting, and science.
He argues that generalists, who often find their path late and juggle multiple interests, are more creative, agile, and able to make connections that specialists cannot.
Epstein uses stories and research studies to show that wide sampling and late specialization can be more valuable than early specialization, especially in complex and unpredictable environments.
He also discusses the distinction between 'kind' and 'wicked' learning environments and the importance of balancing specialization with range for long-term success.
#64
• Mentioned in 231 episodes
Grit
The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Angela Duckworth
In this book, Angela Duckworth presents a compelling argument that success is driven more by grit, a fusion of relentless passion and perseverance, than by talent.
She explains what grit is, how to identify and develop it, and how it can be grown through stages such as developing interests, consistent practice, finding a pro-social purpose, and cultivating optimism.
The book is structured in three parts: explaining what grit is and why it matters, how to grow grit from the inside out, and how to grow grit from the outside in, targeting parents, coaches, teachers, and organizational leaders.
Duckworth supports her arguments with personal stories, historical insights, and interviews with high achievers from various fields.
#29707
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Dark emu
Bruce Pascoe
Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe re-examines colonial accounts of Aboriginal people in Australia, arguing that they practiced agriculture, aquaculture, and built permanent structures.
The book challenges the 'hunter-gatherer' label and highlights the impact of European colonization on these systems.
It advocates for recognizing and reviving Indigenous agricultural practices to address contemporary environmental challenges.
#144
• Mentioned in 142 episodes
10% Happier
Dan Harris
In '10% Happier,' Dan Harris shares his personal journey of discovering the benefits of meditation.
Initially a skeptic, Harris, a news anchor, found himself on a path of self-discovery after a nationally televised panic attack.
He delves into the world of spirituality and self-help, encountering various figures including brain scientists, CEOs, and spiritual leaders.
The book explores how meditation can reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance overall well-being without compromising one's ambition or edge.
Harris emphasizes the importance of mindfulness in making one more resilient and better equipped to handle life's challenges, though it does not eliminate problems entirely.
Please enjoy Harry's conversation with Professor Kate Stevens and Ben Pronk. Kate is a cognitive scientist and Professor in Psychology who’s work investigates humans interacting with each other, their environment, and with technology. Ben is a veteran and former Commanding Officer of Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment and is now the managing partner of Mettle Global. They have a broad ranging discussion on whether or not creativity is more prevalent or necessary in the MCTI community, or is it merely Harry’s recency/confirmation bias. Below are some of the resources mentioned in the episode.
- The “Bodystorming” concept - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodystorming
- Professor Kate Stevens research - https://katestevens.weebly.com/
- Unforgiving 60 podcast – https://unforgiving60.podbean.com/
- Robert De Cormier - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_De_Cormier
- Simon Rattle - https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tLP1TcwLCvKyakyYPTiKc7Mzc9TKEosKclJBQBv-AjU&q=simon+rattle&rlz=1C1CHBF_en-GBAU826AU826&oq=simon+rattle&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j46j0i395l3j0j0i395l2j0j46i395.9293j1j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
- Books mentioned include
- Anne Osborn, Brain - https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Osborn_s_Brain.html?id=IaeswgEACAAJ&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y
- Michelle Tucker, Elizabeth Macarthur - https://www.booktopia.com.au/elizabeth-macarthur-michelle-scott-tucker/book/9781925773736.html?source=pla&gclid=CjwKCAjwiLGGBhAqEiwAgq3q_pi-caPN6PV2wXA51LDqq7i1sMHKC2Rw1GB5OgwIeL66JoQJyFPq3xoCX8UQAvD_BwE
- Bruce Pascoe, Dark Emu - https://www.booktopia.com.au/dark-emu-bruce-pascoe/book/9781921248016.html
- Dan Harris, 10% Happier - https://www.booktopia.com.au/10-happier-dan-harris/book/9781444799057.html
- Michael Pollan, How To Change Your Mind - https://www.booktopia.com.au/how-to-change-your-mind-michael-pollan/book/9780141985138.html?source=pla&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIs8uBkMXK7wIVDpVLBR33-ACXEAQYAiABEgJm5_D_BwE
- Norman Doidge, The Brain That Changes Itself - https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-brain-that-changes-itself-norman-doidge/book/9781921372742.html
- Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outliers_(book)
- Angela Duckworth, Grit - https://angeladuckworth.com/grit-book/
- David Epstein, Range - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Range:_Why_Generalists_Triumph_in_a_Specialized_World
- Music mentioned include
- Powderfinger, Vulture St - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0HaoY81jCMiGVBP3fE6mK7
- The Externals, The Hell Beyond - https://open.spotify.com/album/5NNRcziDrTnwr6orAT6R3N