Twenty-Two Habits for Better Creativity

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Select and translate working habits into observable small-group collaboration behaviors.

Use it when: Use during a team planning session or workshop launch to set explicit operating agreements for how the group will collaborate.

Skip it when: Skip when the team must deliver an urgent project output without time to examine its working methods.

Group arrangement: Subgroups of 3 to 5 participants working in parallel; if 1 or 2 participants remain, form subgroups of up to 6 so everyone is placed

Timing: Source specifies 5 to 15 minutes. 15 minutes fits introduction, small-group dialogue, and a limited plenary readout.

Materials and tools

• Printed 22 Habits Reference Sheet and Reflection Worksheet (1 per subgroup)
• Pens (1 per person)
• Sticky notes or index cards (1 pack per room)
• Shared digital document or virtual whiteboard (for remote or hybrid sessions)

Before participants arrive

1. Arrange seating for subgroups of 3 to 5 participants.
2. Place one printed reference sheet and reflection worksheet at each small-group station.
3. For hybrid or remote setups, prepare a shared digital document with designated subgroup sections.

Say this to open

Look at the habit sheet on your table. In your groups, pick three habits to examine. Discuss what each habit looks like when tested in practice, or challenge it if it does not fit your work. Then choose one small habit and write a concrete action your group will try today.

How to run it

1. Introduce habit review 2 minutes

   Speak the opening script. Direct subgroups to review the 22 Creative Habits Reference Sheet. Each subgroup agrees on 3 habits to inspect. Facilitators may pre-select 3 habits for each group based on known team needs, or assign randomly if groups stall.

2. Examine habits in subgroups 6 minutes

   Subgroups discuss their 3 selected habits using the Reflection Worksheet. For each habit, participants identify practical behaviors, evaluate trade-offs, or raise critiques. Example: For assessing feedback critically, a group might agree to wait five minutes and write down questions before replying to design critique.

3. Define one action commitment 4 minutes

   Each subgroup selects one habit and records a single concrete action to use during today's gathering. Direct them to write the action on an index card using observable terms: when this situation occurs, we will take this specific step.

4. Share commitments and close 3 minutes

   Invite 2 or 3 subgroups to read their action card aloud to the full room. Collect remaining cards to post on a wall or shared board. Ask one debrief question to close.

Debrief questions

• Which habit provoked the most disagreement or skepticism in your group?
• What friction might occur when trying to apply your chosen action today?

Finished output: Each subgroup produces a completed three-habit worksheet and an index card with one observable behavioral commitment.

Remote

Provide the reference sheet and reflection worksheet via a shared digital document. Send subgroups of 3 to 5 into video breakout rooms for 10 minutes. Each subgroup types their chosen habit and behavioral action into a shared room slide. Return to plenary for 3 minutes of brief sharing.

Hybrid

Place in-person participants in room subgroups and keep remote attendees in dedicated online breakout rooms. All subgroups record their selected habit and commitment into the shared digital document visible on the room display.

Access and participation choices

• Provide the habit reference list in digital plain text and large print.
• Participants may question or reject any habit rather than adopt it, and may choose to take notes silently rather than speak.

If the session gets stuck

Groups spend several minutes debating which habits to select.

Intervene after 90 seconds and assign three specific numbered habits, either based on observed team gaps or selected randomly.

Action commitments are vague platitudes such as be more innovative.

Prompt the subgroup to specify an observable trigger and behavior: when X happens, our group will do Y.

Terms used here

• People Science teams: Internal organizational development or human resources working groups referenced in the source handbook.