Ever feel trapped by the status quo in public health, where innovation seems to crash into the wall of "we've always done it this way"? In this episode of Public Health Curated, we're exploring how small acts of creative rebellion can transform our impact and bring joy back to public health work.
Key Takeaways
- Creativity isn't about breaking rules—it's about breaking patterns
- Innovation can happen within existing roles and constraints
- Small acts of creative rebellion can lead to meaningful change
- Learning from 'plot twists' helps build innovative solutions
- Cross-pollination from other fields can inspire fresh approaches
Episode Highlights
The Innovation Mindset Trinity
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Permission to Experiment
- You already have authority to try new approaches
- Innovation can happen within existing roles
- Creativity doesn't require special permission
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Learning from 'Plot Twists'
- Embrace "failures" as valuable feedback
- Use unexpected outcomes as data
- Transform challenges into learning opportunities
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Building on Bright Spots
- Identify what's already working
- Amplify successful elements
- Use existing wins as foundation for innovation
Practical Creativity Tools
1. Reverse Brainstorming
- Start with "what would make this worst?"
- Use negative examples to find positive solutions
- Break free from conventional thinking patterns
2. Constraint Flipping
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Transform limitations into advantages
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Use restrictions to fuel creativity
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Find opportunity in challenges
3. Cross-Pollination
- Borrow ideas from other industries
- Apply unexpected solutions to public health
- Learn from diverse fields and approaches
The Creative Rebellion Formula
- Document the status quo approach
- Identify three different industries or fields
- Analyze how they solve similar challenges
- Adapt solutions to your context
Success Stories
The "Croissants and Collaboration" example shows how a simple creative twist can transform standard meetings into memorable experiences that enhance engagement and productivity. It's not about the pastries—it's about breaking patterns and introducing elements of surprise and joy into our work.
Your Action Steps
- Choose one meeting or process to creatively reimagine this week
- Apply the Creative Rebellion Formula to a current challenge
- Experiment with one of the three creativity tools
- Share your creative experiments using #PHCreativity
Join the Conversation
Share your creative rebellions and innovations with our community! How are you breaking free from "we've always done it this way" thinking? What unexpected approaches have worked in your public health practice? Connect with fellow impact-shapers and share your stories using #PHCreativity.
About the Host: Veronica Sek-Shubert, MPH, is the founder of Public Health Curated and a DrPH candidate at Tulane University. With over 15 years of experience in non-for-profit and public health spaces, she's dedicated to helping professionals rediscover their spark while creating meaningful system change.