John Frederick – Living the Evolution of Creativity and Leadership

Creative Flow: Thinkers and Change Agents

Our eighteenth episode of the Creative Flow: Thinkers and Change Agents Podcast Series features John Frederick, a lifelong educator who created the Center for Executive Leadership at Daemen College (Buffalo, NY). His journey to Creativity started when he received a postcard that changed his life. This postcard was an invitation he accepted to join a research study called the Creativity Project which involved taking a sequence of four courses as a College Freshman at the State University of NY Buffalo State. Two giants in the Science of Creativity, Sid Parnes and Ruth Noller, were just starting a groundbreaking study that ultimately was the first to prove that creativity can be taught and improved using deliberate creativity methods.

John has been an active part of the history of Creative Studies as an educator and instrumental in the field of Leadership. He shares his beliefs about the importance of Creativity as a mindset and that all people can be creative. He teaches his students the importance of different styles of Creativity and how to recognize and honor differences within yourself and others.

As he was developing the Executive Leadership and Innovation program at Daemen, John used Creative Problem Solving (CPS) as a foundational approach. His work reflects a belief that we are all leaders, not just ones with a specific title. By incorporating mindfulness and coining the term 3EO (Keeping Three Eyes Open), he encourages leaders to pay attention with a heightened sense of awareness to what is happening within themselves, others, and the context. John incorporates contemplative education in his work and is a founding member of The Mindfulness Alliance. He sees mindfulness as part of deferring judgment, a central tenant to CPS and uses a moment of mindfulness before starting a class.

John has attended and led sessions at the Creative Problem Solving Institute (CPSI) for over 38 years, including working in their Youthwise program. While most podcast guests have one Creative Flow, John has four:

1. When he attends CPSI, he describes seeing, hearing, and even dancing differently and feeling “feels so alive in every aspect”
2. When participating in a well-facilitated CPS session
3. Educator Flow when teaching and getting into deep discussion
4. Heartfelt Flow is spending time with the grandkids and being totally engaged with them

Don’t miss the fascinating discussion in the episode from a man who has lived the evolution of Creativity and continues to take it to new places in the field of Leadership.