To celebrate the launch of our new Creative Leadership Workshop and Mike Peng’s return as IDEO’s CEO, we’re rounding up some of his most powerful quotes on creativity, leadership, and collaboration.

Mike has spent his career shaping IDEO studios across the globe, teaching design thinking at leading universities, and helping teams—from startups in Japan to global corporations—work more creatively together. His insights, pulled from interviews, blog posts, and his Creative Collaboration Course, are equal parts energizing and practical.

Our 2019 Creative Confidence Podcast interview with Mike and IDEO U founder Suzanne Gibbs Howard is just as fresh and relevant today as it was then. Listen to the episode below to hear Mike’s advice in his own words.

Here’s a roundup of Mike’s best advice—words to live and lead by.

Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

On the myth of effortless creativity

“Oftentimes people think that creativity is something where you just get people in a room, let them go at it, and then something great comes out. If you're lucky, that could be true. However, what we found is that creative collaboration also needs some guidance. It needs some structure, prep, planning, and constraints. When you have all those pieces together, that's where the best ideas come out.”

On embracing tension, not avoiding it

“Don’t try to prevent tension. Do the prep work to hold it. Tension can be very productive for creative collaboration. In fact, without any tension, it's a little bit too easy. It’s obvious we’re not pushing each other to make our ideas better. So tension is a good thing. What we need to do is manage tension.”

“The best ideas come from the meetings that were a little bit uncomfortable. Because we had really strong views about why we thought an idea was going to be really successful. Those are great conversations because they point out questions that we need to answer in the future. They enable us to take an idea forward. Time and time again, in my work with so many different companies and teams, when we get to the point where you feel that friction in the room–we call it a hot spot–you know that's the place where innovation will come about because that's where people are holding too tightly to preconceived notions. If you can unlock that place, that's where you get something innovative.”

“All too often, consensus and harmony is confused for collaboration. While this might feel better, it actually limits the potential of the group to innovate.”

On the mindset of creative leadership

“My goal is to become more of a compass and less of a map. It’s that balance of trying to create the vision that everyone aligns to, yet still finding ways to work alongside people.”

“I’m always trying to grow and be a better leader, but for me, it's less about improving a particular style of leadership and more about knowing when to use what type of leadership at what moment. Every team dynamic is different, every person's different, and every situation is a little bit different.”

On getting comfortable with discomfort

“As human beings, we like to put things in boxes, and have them neat with a pretty bow on top. But divergence is a time when things get a little bit messy. Because if we want to create solutions that we haven't thought about before, we need to be okay with having ideas that we haven't thought about before. And that can be really uncomfortable. You have to practice being in that mindset to be open to new ideas that may at the time feel crazy. If you think about all the innovations that we are using these days, someone had to think of that idea. And I bet, at that time, it was really crazy.”

Want to learn directly from Mike? Go deeper with the creative collaboration course

Explore Cultivating Creative Collaboration, the 5-week IDEO U course taught by Mike Peng. 

Inside the course, you’ll learn how to:

• Structure collaboration so creativity can thrive

• Guide teams through ambiguity, tension, and iteration

• Build the trust and clarity needed for breakthrough ideas

What you’ll learn in the Creative Leadership Workshop

Looking for something shorter that still packs a punch? Check out our new Creative Leadership Workshop, a 2.5-hour interactive experience that features lessons from Mike’s course. 

You’ll learn how to:

• Guide diverse teams through tension and ambiguity

• Unlock creativity in moments of uncertainty

• Turn conflict and difference into momentum

Read more of Mike’s advice

• What Is Creative Collaboration? A Guide for Team Leaders

• How Mike Peng Builds Creative Collaboration Across Cultures and Disciplines