Oh so you're creative? What industry is that again?

The UK Department of Culture, Media and Sport has a bunch of facts and figures relating to 'creative industries' on their web site. Can you guess what sort of industries this description refers to? [Hint: The title of the department itself should give you more than a clue].

A government body promoting specific industries over others as 'creative' is puzzling. In fact the label itself is puzzling. I've lost count of the seminars, presentations, keynote speeches, workshops or business meetings where 'creatives' are mentioned as if they're some exclusive section of society. I've lost count of the Linkedin posts that mention 'creatives' as a set of people requiring their own unique label. Time and again I've heard presenters cosily mention 'ohh...us creatives..' or refer to '...the more creative amongst us' as if this tribe of wonder beings knows something we don't.

On the other hand, we're told that ALL children are creative, that creativity is to be encouraged and it lives in all of us (though one of the most popular TED talks in history states it can be killed). So if that's the case, it must follow that whatever industry we're in, whatever walk of life we take - in some shape or form, it's a creative one, right? Well you'd think so (this guy certainly did) - but no. Government administrations, social groups and entire conferences/webinars continue to dedicate themselves to 'the creatives' as a select group, in selected industries.

Let's say for a moment they're right. OK, well in that case, for the sake of balance, where are the "non-creative" industries? I don't see any. I don't see a department set up to promote industries that are 'creatively challenged'. I can't say I've had a flyer inviting me to seminar to celebrate the "non-creatively industry sector" to shoot the breeze with my fellow creatively-devoid attendees.

I get the fact that there's a distinction between fine arts and accounting, between literary theory and business management, between humanities and chemistry - I get that. 

But one being specifically referred to creative over the other? Come on.

Claiming that word to define subsets has set a dangerous precedent. We've got to the stage where creative accounting has entered common parlance a murky euphemism as if the two words shouldn't even be seen together. Even among the so-called creatives themselves we see division (like 42 seconds into this classic Apple baiting Samsung ad :'...I'm creative..' - '..Dude, you're a Barista'). However that joke loses something when you see the impressive concept of Latte art.

So yes. Baristas are creative. Scientists are creative. Consultants are creative. Writers are creative. Your industry is creative. Whatever some people (or whole Government departments) think.

Creativity is not exclusive nor is it more attuned to any one profession over another.
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Now go and be creative, because you are, regardless of the labels others give you. Am I right?

Author

Surj Bami is the director of Blue Harper, a consultancy specialising in the Financial and Public sectors. He is also part of an expert consortium consultancy LGimprove focussing specifically on Local Government excellence.