A visit to a new gym a while
back reminded me of the reason I like to spend so much time working in a
solitary environment – the sound track!
In that environment, it’s a given/ inevitable that rock/dance music plays
providing rhythm and bass for additional workout stimulation, or would that be
motivation? Down at the local YMCA, this
method isn't employed; however, many die-hards are wired. Others are watching TV while on their
treadmill, elliptical trainer or whatever other machine that keeps you moving
and stationary simultaneously.
Yet, you can’t really go anywhere indoors without a sound
track of some kind either; sometimes it’s white noise as it is in office
buildings; other times it’s meant to provide shoppers with that ‘feel good’
feeling while they shop and spend for Christmas or some other occasion. Depending on the targeted demographic, will
determine the type and volume of the music.
But, it doesn't stop at indoor venues anymore, even if you go for a walk
or run in the park, at least seventy five percent of those you encounter who
are alone are also in their own world; earphones/buds are the accessory of the
day, with whatever music the walker/runner likes feeding into their minds,
drowning the silence. Those who aren't just listening to music may very well be wearing a blue-tooth, ant or some
other phone device.
Some of us, and I don’t know if we are fewer in number (logically, I don't think that is so); when we go to the park, it's to let something else
speak to us. The rustle of leaves in the trees or the screech of gulls warding
others off in an attempt to be the first to get the partially eaten sandwich or
dropped French fry. The gentle lap of
the water against the shore line or even the laughter and occasional delighted
squeals of children playing on the play equipment in the play area. This is the music
of life, real life and of inspiration and motivation.
For those of us who are introverts, our creativity comes
from a place of quiet and reflection. It
often doesn't burst in on us. There is no drum roll to announce a brilliant
idea is on its way. It may start as a
whisper and if your mind was otherwise occupied, would miss that first note,
the one that asks us to be still and pay attention while the idea formulates. For us, motivation, energy, stimulation and
creativity, congregate; waiting for the listener to be quiet enough to hear the
first notes of an internal symphony of discovery.
At times, when there is a lot of external noise in my
life, I don’t feel creative or even try to work out a problem as it likely won’t happen. So, anytime my little
house is overrun with company, I adjust to the stimulus and just enjoy the
companionship, the murmur of individual conversations and the spontaneous
laughter that is regularly a part of any group of people who are comfortable
with one another. But, this is also a time
I put my creative brain on hold.
Sometime it's just until I go to bed, when I can read for a while to quiet
the cacophony of sound echoing through the halls of recent memory. To be sure, it is a different life, and one
that in teenage years experienced plenty of resistance, yet, quiet eventually won.
Now, it’s not a case of choosing. It’s a given, I prefer quiet!
But, how about you? Would you accommodate each type in your organisation? Or do you even think about it? If accommodating an introvert would produce phenomenal results, could you do it?
Open environments encourage collaboration, interaction and activity. Once an idea has formulated, an introvert has no trouble working in this environment, but, they don't usually become too creative just by bouncing ideas off others. Firstly, if they're thinking something through, the high energy, spontaneous chatter may have the opposite affect. Quite often, if I'm thinking about something and people are trying to jog my memory by giving me verbal queues it only serves to send the messages that are trying to reach the front of my brain into the background. Yet others appreciate that very action and thrive!
You definitely need both type of individuals as both will bring a unique perspective. But, you have to know, if you're dealing with one or the other, what environment will best serve your purposes in getting ultimate results from them.
Let us know - how do you best perform? Is your creativity spawned in the high energy, spontaneous environment or is it in the quietness and confidence that your thought processes work at their optimum?
