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 the last years, creativity gained more attention and respect in the business world.
PWC’s 19th Annual Global CEO Survey reports that 51% CEOs are making significant changes to their organisation in order to better use digital technologies. This ranks as the most important driver for change according to the 2016 CEO survey.
Many companies faced by potential disruptions or opportunities associated with the new digital word adopt new practices at the core of their strategy and execution. For example they embrace activities like design thinking or growth hacking. Those rely heavily on creativity.
The Future of Jobs Report from the World Economic Forum is confirming this trend. Creativity is set to become #3 most wanted skill in 2020. It was “only” ranked #10 in 2015. Creativity will only be topped by #2 critical thinking and #1 the ability to solve complex problem.
As a society we need the private and public sectors to become more efficient innovator and value creator. In the last decade, productivity gains slowed down drastically.
We can hope that this plateau of productivity is only the warning sign of major improvement 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 years old or over. In 2015, this ratio is 7 to 1. This means at the world level we need to double our productivity in the next 35 years. One working person in 2050 will have to deliver the same output as 2 working person in 2015. That would required at least a consistent net gain of 2% of productivity for the next 35 years! If not then we may face a pauperisation of our societies.
People should not be concerned by radical innovations like autonomous driving, artificial intelligence, or robotic as long as they create value for the society. We indeed need plenty of them to fill up the productivity gap.
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious” – Albert Einstein
At a time where our society is crying for innovation and progress, at a time where digital technologies seems to have more to offer than ever, CREATIVITY seems the most important thing we need.