{Note:  I know that there are differences between change and innovation and creativity.  But they are all cousins – and they seem to fit together.  Please keep this in mind as I use all three of these words in this post.).

This happened when I was presenting a book synopsis to a group of about 100 health care professionals.  The book was one of many excellent books on innovation that I have in my “repertoire.”

(Note:  I have been presenting business book synopses since April, 1998, as a way to help executive teams and other business professionals “think about” the challenges they face).

So, in the midst of this presentation, I asked a question that I have asked to many audiences:

“How many of you like change?” 

Nearly every hand goes up.  And, then, in the nicest tone of voice I can muster, I say:  — “I don’t mean to offend you.  But practically all of you are lying.  To others, and to yourself.  The fact is, you really don’t like change – and neither do I.”

Well, for the first (and only time), one member of the audience took great offense at my comment.  And I did admit that it was possible that she, in fact, loves change.  But, if she does, I am pretty sure she is in a very, very rare minority.

I am increasingly convinced of this.  Oh, we like and praise and honor and revere those folks and companies that bring about change that we have accepted as good.  We fall in love with successful change – after the fact!

But, to actually be the one to have to change, especially “first,” especially when such change disrupts our routine or preferences…  well, we don’t like this kind of change.  We want others to like change.  But we like doing things our way, the way we have grown oh so comfortable with.

Let’s take something as simple as a web site re-design.  (OK – yes, I know that to do this well is not that “simple.”).  I hate it when I have learned the layout of a news or shopping website or blog, and then they change it on me.  And that’s how I feel, by the way – “why did they have to do this to me?”

Now, I know that such change is good, “required” to stay competitive, but I don’t like to have to learn the new layout.  I was happy just the way it was before, thank you very much!

And, by the way, I wish I was not like this.  I wish I saw a new web site design, and thought “oh goody – I can’t wait to try this out, and learn the new features of this site.”  I wish I was that way – but, I’m not.

So, I resonate pretty well with this terrific article:  Inside the Box:  People don’t actually like creativity by Jessica Olien (on the recently redesigned Slate site – curse those folks at Slate!).

From her article:

We are taught that our own creativity will be celebrated as well, and that if we have good ideas, we will succeed.

It’s all a lie. This is the thing about creativity that is rarely acknowledged: Most people don’t actually like it. Studies confirm what many creative people have suspected all along: People are biased against creative thinking, despite all of their insistence otherwise.

“We think of creative people in a heroic manner, and we celebrate them, but the thing we celebrate is the after-effect,” says Barry Staw, a researcher at the University of California–Berkeley business school who specializes in creativity.

…Truly creative ideas take a very long time to be accepted. The better the idea, the longer it might take. Even the work of Nobel Prize winners was commonly rejected by their peers for an extended period of time. (emphasis added).

Most people agree that what distinguishes those who become famously creative is their resilience. While creativity at times is very rewarding, it is not about happiness. Staw says a successful creative person is someone “who can survive conformity pressures and be impervious to social pressure.”

To live creatively is a choice. You must make a commitment to your own mind and the possibility that you will not be accepted. You have to let go of satisfying people, often even yourself.  (emphasis added).

In her article, she quotes from and links to a chapter from a compilation book on change and innovatoin by Barry Staw, quoted above (read his chapter here:  “Why No One Really Wants Creativity.”  Here’s how he ends his chapter

The reality is that only a few individuals and organizations really want to be creative, when all the details are known.”

So, here’s your innovation/change/creativity lesson of the day.  It has to start with you. 

You know:  “how many creative innovators does it take to bring about a significant change?  Maybe only one – but he has to really want to change!”