It is always entertaining to imagine what the future could be like. It is a part of my job that I enjoy very much. It is - I believe - an activity that everybody should practice. It only requires curiosity, audacity, and a playful mind.
"If you can dream it, you can do it." - Walt Disney
In recent years, creativity has gained more attention and respect in the business world.
PWC's 19th Annual Global CEO Survey reports that 51% of CEOs are making significant changes to their organizations to better use digital technologies, ranking this as the most important driver for change according to the 2016 CEO survey.
Many companies, faced with potential disruptions or opportunities associated with the digital world, have adopted new practices at the core of their strategy and execution. They embrace methods like design thinking or growth hacking, which rely heavily on creativity.
The Future of Jobs and Creativity
The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report confirms this trend. Creativity is set to become the #3 most desired skill by 2020, moving up from #10 in 2015. It will only be topped by critical thinking and the ability to solve complex problems.
As a society, we need the private and public sectors to become more efficient innovators and value creators. In the past decade, productivity gains have slowed drastically.
We can hope this plateau of productivity is a precursor to major improvements driven by new digital technologies. Indeed the demography of our societies is going through a massive transformation. By 2050, there will be only 3.5 working-age persons per person aged 65 or over, down from a 7-to-1 ratio in 2015.This demographic shift implies we must double our productivity over the next 35 years, requiring a consistent productivity gain of at least 2% annually. If not then we may face a pauperization of our societies.
People should not fear radical innovations like autonomous driving, artificial intelligence, or robotics, as long as they create societal value. We need these innovations to bridge the productivity gap.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
At a time when society is calling for innovation and progress, and digital technologies offer more than ever, CREATIVITY remains one of the most crucial things we need.