Creatively Sparking Creativity

Just finished reading a truly fascinating interview with Mario Almondo, director of human resources and organization at Ferrari in the April 2006 issue of the Harvard Business Review. (Yeah, 2006; I'm a little behind on my reading, okay?!)

In it he spoke about their Formula Uomo program. (Uomo=Human Being).

"You can't methodically teach creativity," says Almondo, "But you can provide an environment that nurtures it."

Two programs of particular note:

1. English@breakfast - Italian-speaking employees can start their workday by practicing their English. They can also practice at lunch (English@lunch) or in the afternoon (English@tea) or in German (Deutsche Party), if they prefer. "Employees really enjoy these sessions, and, obviously, having multilingual employees is good for Ferrari."
2. The Creativity Club - In this program, employees can actually meet, talk with, and ask questions of, different types of artists. "We've had painters, sculptors, a jazz musician, a writer, a radio DJ, a photographer, a chef, an actor, an orchestra conductor, and others," Almondo reports. "The goal is for our employees to learn about how artists generate ideas and solutions."

Interestingly, these programs are open to all employees, not just some, and not just to those at certain organizational levels. So there's all sorts of opportunities for senior executives and front-line personnel to interrelate ... as people ... rather than as a function of role, title, project, or assignment.

Too, "by holding the club at the firm, rather than, say, encouraging employees to take art courses elsewhere, we're hoping people will make links between the inspiration they get and their professional activities here."

Imagine how this builds comfort, connectedness, information- and idea-sharing, collegiality, engagement - and creativity - throughout the rest of the year ... in hallways, elevators, meetings, break rooms, coffee shops, and such ... up, down, and across, the entire organization.

That's assolutamente fantastico, sì?!