This archive report was first published on 25 September 2019.
Imagine walking into a team meeting with spinach stuck on your teeth or a suspicious stain on your clothes. It's a mortifying experience, but new research suggests that sharing such embarrassing moments can have a surprising benefit: boosting team creativity.
According to a study published on September 25, 2019, people who recounted embarrassing incidents generated almost 28% more ideas and over 20% greater variety of ideas than those who wrote about prideful moments. The researchers found that sharing embarrassing moments fosters team harmony and boosts creativity.
Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, is a rare example of an entrepreneur who has spoken publicly about the true cost of entrepreneurship. In an interview with the New York Times, Musk revealed that he worked 120 hours a week, hadn't taken a week-long holiday for close to 20 years, and the last time he took seven days off from work was in 2001 when he fell ill with malaria.
Most entrepreneurs, even the celebrated ones, deal with issues they don't discuss openly, such as long hours, mental disorders, anxiety, self-doubt, and low esteem. However, the tough times in business can embolden founders, make them more resilient, and more optimistic as they become aware of different cycles in business.
So, the next time you're in a team meeting, consider sharing your embarrassing moment. It might just boost your team's creativity and foster a sense of camaraderie.
