Creativity VS Efficiency, the Art of Business Success, with Art Markman

Innovation sounds good in theory, but most organizations are quietly structured to prevent it.In this episode of the “Nice Business!” PodcastTM, hosts Richard Train and Jim Bob Howard welcome Art Markman, a leading cognitive psychologist whose work focuses on how people think, learn, and create together inside organizations. Drawing from decades of research, teaching, and advisory experience across business, education, and innovation, Art brings a grounded, science-backed perspective to the challenges leaders face every day.This episode invites leaders to rethink what progress actually looks like and challenges the assumption that speed, optimization, and constant output always lead to growth. It offers a fresh way to view innovation as a strategic decision that begins with allowing thinking, experimentation, and a little discomfort.Topics Covered:00:00 – Episode Snippet00:59 – Introducing our guest, Art Markman02:54 – The hidden conflict between efficiency and innovation04:17 – Company size, innovation, and unused capacity07:58 – The value of learning without immediate justification08:01 – Why innovative employees often look inefficient11:26 – Separating routine work from innovative work14:45 – Applying innovation principles in small businesses16:05 – Creating focused innovation roles on small teams22:33 – Investing in people 24:01 – Why traditional brainstorming fails27:07 – Mistake recovery is a leadership skill32:02 – A structured alternative to brainstorming34:24 – Profit is not the only number that matters36:07 – Art’s current work in higher education innovation39:16 – Where to connect with Art MarkmanAbout Our Guest:Art Markman is the Annabel Irion Worsham Centennial Professor of Psychology and Marketing at the University of Texas at Austin and a recognized expert on how people think, decide, and work together. He founded the Program in the Human Dimensions of Organizations and has served as Executive Director of the IC2 Institute.Known for translating cognitive science into practical insight, Art focuses on decision making, creativity, and innovation, helping leaders better understand how human behavior shapes organizational success.Connect with Art Markman:Web: http://www.smartthinkingbook.com/FB: https://www.facebook.com/ArtMarkmanPhD/#X: https://x.com/abmarkmanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/art-markman-93aa6a22/Connect with Richard Train:Web: https://www.richardltrainconsulting.biz FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578616461967 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-train-b39501349 Connect with Jim Bob Howard:Web: https://www.jimbobhoward.com X: https://x.com/jbhoward IG: https://www.instagram.com/jbhoward YT: https://www.youtube.com/user/jimbobhoward LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbhoward