Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lauren St George. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Lauren, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think it takes to be successful?
I believe that the number one skill needed to be successful in both your personal and business life is creativity. What is creativity? The simplest definition that I like to use is “the ability to come up with new and novel ideas”. This means problem solving. Creativity is often mistaken for artistic ability. It is a skill used when making new artwork or writing but again is not the hands-on skill used when drawing or painting.
Why is this creativity important? In a world of exponential change your ability to solve challenges as they arise is paramount to your success. There are 8 principles that underpin creativity and when we can embody these, we are better able to ride the waves of change, overcome roadblocks, imagine a vibrant future and live our dreams.
1. Co-creation
We can imagine, build and iterate on our ideas better when we co-create. Solving challenges in a group helps us to generate better ideas, make stronger connections and bring things to life.
2. Yes, And
Saying yes and building on another person’s ideas is an improv skill that helps to keep a scene or conversation flowing. I have learned with working with teams that say yes to each other are far more creative and able to overcome obstacles together. Saying no is the fastest way to kill ideas, silence others and destroy trust.
3. Flexibility
Practicing flexibility is probably the hardest skill for many. It means being open to ambiguity, adapting to change and pivoting when needed. Doing this well is possible when you trust your problem-solving skills and know that you can find gold in the unknown. It takes practice.
4. Great questions
Asking great questions makes all the difference in the quality of your solutions. Your questions should have a purpose, are clear and concise, open ended (no yes and no questions), avoid leading questions and encourage elaboration. This principle goes hand in hand with deep listening. Ask your question, then be present and listen to the answer without thinking about the next question.
5. Deep listening
Deep listening means listening to people with the intent to understand their perspective. It requires reading both verbal and non-verbal cues to gain further context to their answers for instance do they sound angry, anxious or are they avoiding eye contact. To do this well you need to have compassion for the person you are in conversation with. I also recommend when it comes to problem solving to get the best thinking listen to people from all levels of the company and balance the responses.
6. Human at the center
Keep the human at the center of everything you do. In your business world, make sure that your people and clients feel heard and appreciated. Your business will thrive as a result. It should never be only about the bottom line. In your personal life remember that there is another human sitting opposite you with needs and wants.
7. Curiosity
Staying curious throughout your life is an imperative. Keep learning and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zones. Go on adventures, ask questions, look for new ideas and perspectives. This all leads to continued growth.
8. Have fun
Nothing kills creativity faster than dullness and boredom. It is easier to have better ideas and see things from different angles when you are in a supportive, comfortable environment that encourages silliness, levity and openness to breaking the rules.
Lauren, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a South African by birth, an American by choice and a global explorer by design. As a coach and consultant I have forged relationships with a worldwide network of individuals and businesses, helping them to grapple with challenges, think outside the box, leap over hurdles, and chase down dreams.
I wear my coach hat with What’s Next. What’s Next is a radically different approach to finding more fulfillment across all aspects of your life. What’s Next’s process is based in brain science, social psychology and the best practices used in creative problem solving to drive innovation, plan for the future and yield massive success. The aim being to disrupt comfortable (yet unsatisfying) patterns and design true change. My approach and tools drive people to breakthroughs, jumpstarts action in a unique and engaging way and turns ideas into reality.
I wear my consultant hat with Accenture. Here I partner with internal teams and their top clients to solve high priority challenges – innovate products/services, envision the future, build partnerships, create targeted messaging and brands. To date, I have helped to facilitate Accenture’s acquisition of over $4 billion in contracts with their global clients.
Before Accenture, I ran Fresh, a consultancy dedicated to helping startups and innovation teams create fresh brand and marketing strategies. Prior to that, I co-owned a boutique creative agency. UnitOne partnered with clients such as Coca-Cola, Georgia Pacific, Hershey’s, Citi, J&J, TNS, and 3M to name a few.
I have worked with everyone from highly successful c-suite to scrappy non-profits and from brave, fledgling start-ups to towering Fortune 500 giants across most industries, geographies, and products + services. The richness of my experiences allow me to translate multiple perspectives into crystal clear direction for growth.
At the heart of my entire career is the single thread that connects it all together: Creativity. Creativity weaves through the fabric of my life’s work in the realms of marketing, branding, storytelling, coaching, and consulting. My creative approach shatters the shackles of conventionality, obliterates barriers, and helps manifest audacious aspirations.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
First, you must create an environment of trust. You do this by showing your team that you are willing to be vulnerable, candid, and transparent. Over time the way you show up gives them permission to do the same. Second, make sure your team knows what is expected of them and when it changes that you have the conversation in a timely manner so everyone is on the same page. Third, I recommend a continuous conversation around feedback on projects, areas to work on next and celebrating each individuals’ accomplishments. On top of this add some fun, social or team activities during office hours so that people can get to know each other on a more personal level. I suggest office hours because asking people to give of their free or family time after work can be difficult. Always try to accommodate as many as you can on your team or alternate the activities to include most people over time. Fun should never be mandatory but if you have created the right culture, people will want to attend rather than miss out.
We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.
Brand loyalty comes from customer / client experience. It starts with before they purchase your services or product all the way through how you keep in contact with them after. A handwritten note goes a long way because so few people put pen to paper these days. Whether it is a birthday card, holiday card or sending something fun in the mail these will all make sure you stand out. I also recommend a once-a-year client party for new and past clients as a great way to appreciate their patronage. For other clients taking them out for coffee, lunch or dinner is a lovely way to keep in contact and keep things personal. I believe the more creative you are, the more you will stand out but that doesn’t have to mean expensive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.answerwhatsnext.com
- Instagram: @answerwhatsnext
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenstgeorgecoaching
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-stgeorge/
Image Credits
Christy Parry – headshot