005 - Artistic Intelligence: The new Design Thinking? with Romas Stukenberg

In this episode, I speak with Romas Stukenberg, a graduate of the prestigious THNK school for creative leadership and founder of Artistic Intelligence, a creative consulting agency that helps leaders to tackle strategic challenges through artistic means. We talk about the difference between being creative and artistic. Our conversation dives deep into the topic of self-leadership and the role of individual courage for successful workshops. 
 
Don’t miss Romas' practical advice on how facilitators can drive groups from creative exploration back to the strategic application. Romas’ artistic approach will inspire you to deliver workshops that work. 

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Questions and Answers

[00:56] If you were a hashtag. What would you be? 

[02:09] According to you, what is the biggest misconception about design and art?

[03:33] According to you, what is the true value of a designer in the business world? 

[05:16] You started a project that you call “artistic intelligence” – AI. What is your story behind this project? 

[07:19] How difficult is it to get business people to answer “big existential questions” by using art as a tool? 

[08:35] The concept of “AI” addresses strategic questions with open ends - What are good examples?

[09:18] What is the difference between artistic and creative?

[10:55] To what extent does artistic intelligence differ from Design Thinking?

[11:57] Is AI then about slowing down?

[13:45] In your AI workshops, is it the mindset and philosophy of art you apply or do participants also get their “hands dirty”?

[15:17] To what extent are business leaders ready for this jump?

[18:08 How do you converge the group towards results after the artistic exploration?

[22:17] What is the impact of the physical workshop space on the dynamics? 

[23:09] What do the artists who facilitate your sessions differently compared to facilitators from the usual business environment?  

[24:49] In a review of one of your workshops I read that you ask participants to explore their fears. What can we find in our fears that would reveal our strengths? 

[29:30] How do you make sure to those who might judge themselves as not being creative enough?

[32:28] What would be for you a “meaningful closure” of a workshop? 

[34:46] What can you do to avoid a “biased” group check-out? 

[36:07] What would be the transformation for a team due to artistic intelligence? 

[37:31] What makes a workshop work? 

[38:54] What can a facilitator do to assure that the quality of space is maintained? 

[41:30] What is the nutshell you would like the audience to take home?

[42:04] How do you encourage courage? 

Related links you may want to check out:

• Romas' business page: www.artisticintelligence.de and www.namename.eu (German only)
• THNK School of Creative Leadership: https://www.thnk.org/  
• Our sponsor Session Lab 

 Connect to Romas:

• LinkedIn 

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈