A key for unleashing innovation in any type of organization is the willingness to let employees try stuff without feeling that they will be punished if they fail. Creativity is only unleashed when people feel safe that they won’t be judged.

Ed Catmull, CEO of Pixar, describes in his talk below why he believes a culture that focuses on being “necessarily honest” is integral to creating the best work possible.

In his book, Creativity Inc., he talks about how Pixar’s continued success is enabled by it’s culture of candor. Read my review of his book Creativity Inc for more insights, as well as a summary of his thoughts on managing a creative culture.

Innovators embrace conflict, they don’t avoid it. It all starts with an understanding that honest feedback enables everyone to be creative without fear of being judged.