Being creative in a group means making room for the idea that isn’t yours to win.

Working in a group means the goal is the best idea in the room, not the best idea from you. That is harder than it sounds, because arguing for your own version feels like contributing when it is mostly competing. The moment you can say plainly that someone else has the stronger idea, the whole group speeds up, and people start bringing you the half-formed ones they would have kept quiet.

In the next group project, back an idea that is not yours and make it better instead of replacing it. Notice how much lighter the room gets when nobody is guarding anything.