Taking the creative journey as a Collective has great value. While the content of the sessions and the path you choose are highly flexible and open, there is a huge benefit in using the c.os model as the primary tool and language to direct you in this journey.
Here are some ways to use the model during and between Collective sessions. We recommend adopting all of them to make the journey effective, action-oriented, and gain real value from the early stages.
The Model as a Language
Reflection is an inherent part of your creative journey. Whether you take the journey alone or with a Collective, thinking about past activities, events, and challenges and using them to imagine a different, better option is the fuel of your journey.
Reflection is rarely a structured activity. But for reflection to be effective and action-oriented, you need to use some framework or language. A well-defined language will help you approach the task of thinking about the past and present and deciding what to do next. When it comes to Creativity, which is by definition a non-structured skill, a predefined language can immensely improve the quality and effectiveness of the discussion.
The seven Core Functions defined by the c.os model form the most essential language for discussing Creativity. When thinking of a creative act or challenge in terms of the seven Core Functions, you create the setup for analyzing what works and what could be improved. If you also add the Core Practices, you can enrich the language even further. As with any language, the richer it is, the easier it becomes to express ideas and thoughts. And that is essentially the first goal of the c.os model.
The Model as a Roadmap
The second use of the c.os model is as a Roadmap for evolution. Each Core Practice it defines can bring you closer to mastering your Creativity Operating System and leading a creative life. As such, the list of Practices is the roadmap for your self (or collective) development.
We don’t recommend planning the entire journey in advance. This is not practical, and it might even limit you further down the road. However, evaluating where you are in terms of adopting each Practice and which Practices you should still refine and integrate into your life can provide a good sense of direction and progress.
The Model as a Platform
The c.os model is an open model, which means it is designed for evolution. Using the model as a platform means you can extend, refine, or adapt it to a concrete domain.
Extending the model means adding new Core Practices that you find useful and generic enough (so they can be applied to any domain and context).
Refining the model means providing your own interpretation of Core Practices. It might sound like narrowing the model, but keep in mind that the model is designed for personal adaptation because each of us has our own effective way to implement each Practice.
Adapting the model means deriving concrete (Domain-Level) Practices from the Core Practices. Domain-Level Practices can be useful as they use the specific context and language of a domain, bringing the Practices closer to the reality you are experiencing.
Extending, refining, and adapting the model are all perfect ways to progress in your Collective (and personal) journey. We would be excited to learn how you are evolving the model, and we invite you to share your ideas with us.