Creativity for leaders, teams, and inspired minds: Mindset Creative Workshops utilize the power of art and play to encourage a culture of growth and development, agility and innovation in teams and organizations.

Why creativity?

To set processes of innovation, change and transformation in motion and to promote better teamwork, you need to discover and activate your creative potential – and that of your team.

Creative thinking helps to imagine new, useful and surprising solutions to challenges, and to better deal with uncertainty. Creativity leads to new ideas, from which successful innovations or an environment of fruitful “co-creation” can grow. It unblocks old patterns or habits of thinking.

Technology is changing the nature of work, and innovation is necessary to adapt and to survive.

Creativity is *the* essential human resource:

  • it is sustainable,
  • it cannot be automated,
  • it can’t be outsourced, and
  • it gives you the competitive advantage.

“The role of a creative leader is not to have all the ideas; it’s to create a culture where everyone can have ideas and feel they’re valued.”
– Sir Ken Robinson

Cultivating creativity

It’s not just abilities and talent that bring success, but rather, whether we approach challenges with the right mindset. Managers and employees alike are encouraged, empowered and strengthened to respond to challenges and changes in an agile manner.

Creativity must be purposefully nurtured: In a Mindset Creative Workshop, you will strengthen your creative skills, and learn how to use these skills in various settings.

Find creative solutions

“In the fixed mindset, everything is about the outcome. If you fail – or if you’re not the best – it’s all been wasted. The growth mindset allows people to value what they’re doing regardless of the outcome.”

– Carol S. Dweck

What is a Mindset Creative Workshop?

Mindset Creative Workshops are a combination of hands-on learning, transferable skills (competencies relevant to both social and professional contexts), and play. The workshops are always customized to meet clients’ needs, and are available in English and German.

Learn artistic strategies

  • Experience the creative process as a way of engaging with the situation, rather than as a set up for “success” or “failure.”
  • Learn to work creatively with others and set aside the fear of failure, opening up channels for dialogue and honest feedback.
  • Start to see challenges as opportunities for learning.
  • Find the value in the process itself.
  • Practice art techniques and learn the art of visual observation.
  • Discover and practice methods of innovative thinking.
  • Open up to innovation through play, fun and lightness.
  • Discover new possibilities for social interaction.
  • Be positively surprised: innovation can happen when we are driven by enjoyment.

Imagine alternatives

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”

– Maya Angelou

FAQ

In a Mindset Creative Workshop, you can expect transformative experiences that cultivate hands-on learning, transferable skills, and the liberating power of play.

Curious? Here are some frequently asked questions:

Mindset Creative Workshops are a strategic investment for teams and leaders. They promote adaptability, dynamic thinking and effective communication to creatively meet the challenges of a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world.

Basic skills, intelligence and talent are not fixed; they can be developed through practice. Neuroscience shows that the brain is malleable and that the connections between neurons can be changed through experience.

The aim is not to create masterpieces or become an artist. It is about gaining new insights through the creative process.

In a safe space, participants experience different tasks and challenges, and systematically reflect on their problem-solving skills. The workshop encourages new ways of thinking, including the recognition of development needs.

Practical learning and reflection are key, regardless of how creative you consider yourself to be!

The duration depends on the needs of your team. Half-day, full-day and two-day formats are available, and workshops can be customized to meet your organization’s objectives. A minimum of 3 hours is recommended, while a full day provides significantly more opportunities to develop new skills.

Skills transfer takes place in the reflection phase. Participants actively engage with their creativity, thinking and communication skills. The aim is to tackle complex business challenges, inspire teams and drive innovation.

Participating guarantees inspiration, breaking old patterns of thinking, making new connections and gaining new perspectives, especially with regard to the benefits of dynamic thinking.

About Mindset Creative Solutions

Mindset Creative Solutions was founded by Janet Grau, a US-American artist and educator with decades of experience in processes of creativity and play. She has lived in Germany since 1999, and in Heidelberg since 2012.

She studied art at the Cleveland Institute of Art (Bachelor of Fine Arts / BFA), and at the Ohio State University (Master of Fine Arts / MFA). Numerous artworks of hers have found their way into private and public collections. She has created many exhibitions for museums and art for public spaces.

Janet always strives for a balance between creating art and cultivating her role as an artist in society. She uses her talent and skills to make a difference — from the homeless to the highly gifted, she has worked with people from all walks of life. Her particular focus is on participatory art projects that address current issues and engage a wide range of people in a collaborative creative process.

In addition to her work as an artist and teacher, Janet has gained valuable experience working with institutions. From 1997 to 2000, she worked for the US educational publisher McGraw Hill. In 2000, she taught a seminar on performance art at the TU Dresden. Since 2010, she has translated films, exhibition materials and publications for cultural institutions and artists. From 2014 to 2022 she was the managing director of “die KulturMacher e.V.” and since 2022, she has been an active member of “Raum der Künste e.V.”, both organizations for the arts and cultural education in Heidelberg.

Janet Grau

Contact

Janet Grau
Mindset Creative Solutions

Cookie Consent with Real Cookie Banner