“The Unseen”
Pixar – the animation studio responsible for Toy Story, Monsters University, The Incredibles
and many more hits – values self-expression as every creative endeavor must. A relentless
search for “unseen” or hidden problems further distinguishes Pixar and fuels its co-founder
and president Ed Catmull. He is always on the lookout for glitches up and down the
command chain that undermine candid expression or the creative process. Catmull is not
afraid of making himself or others uncomfortable to unearth problems, since denying errors
or protecting people’s feelings at the expense of open communication harms an organization
and stifles creativity.
To create and sustain a creative culture, acknowledge the blocks that hinder creativity,
and take prompt action to “protect the creative process.” Pixar used to hold vital meetings
around a long, rectangular table. Catmull gradually noticed that most of the conversation
took place near the center, where the most powerful people sat. People on either end
felt excluded. Catmull tried to remain aware of issues that might interfere with “good
discussion,” but at first he was blind to the effect of the table’s shape. Once he understood
this unseen problem, he ordered a square table. Everyone sat closer together and nearer the
top executives.
Fewer people felt excluded, and the discussions became more democratic – then seating
cards dictating position created a new problem of hierarchy and stifled free discussion.
One day, Andrew Stanton, a director, rearranged the cards randomly. Department heads sat
with front-line employees. No one had a fixed place. This removed the final obstacle to
conversation and reflects Pixar’s chief problem-solving tactic: unfettered communication
regardless of rank.