In addition to finding better solutions to problems, creative employees can expand sales opportunities and distinguish your products and services from your competitors.
The first step to creating a creative workplace is to spark creative thinking in your employees. The trick to coming up with innovative ideas is to let your mind run wild. Help them to develop the right mindset by encouraging them to do so. Here, Philadelphia attorney Amiel Gross shares some ways to cultivate a creative culture.
Make Creativity a Priority
Innovative teamwork requires a genuine team-based environment in which connections are forged through collaboration and social time. If managers make the effort to “de-silo” the organization, they will notice a significant difference. As opposed to staying isolated and focused on only their own projects, employees interact with colleagues in other departments and gain a deeper understanding of the company as a whole. Creative ideas and inspiration will flow freely between departments as a result.
Provide Encouraging Environment
If you’re still thinking in the traditional ways, it could be hard to encourage creativity in your work. The easiest thing to do is to provide an environment that’s free of inhibition. If you have a rule that no one can come up with new ideas or come up with creative ways to solve problems, you’re missing out on a lot. First, it might lead to anxiety and apprehension, which will make you less creative. And second, when you’re less creative, it could lead to less efficient work. That’s why it’s important to create an environment where you feel encouraged to be yourself and where you have the chance to try new things.
Creativity and innovation are inspired by an inspiring workspace. Even if your office layout is more cubicles than open space, there are still ways to inspire your employees. Encourage employees to bring in photos, prints, or small decorative items from home. Consider hanging some beautiful artwork on the wall and adding task lighting and tall lamps. Plants in the office can help purify the air and bring a touch of nature inside.
Sit-stand desks can also give your employees better health and flexibility, as backaches aren’t conducive to creativity. Employees can feel more comfortable and creative when these elements are present, explains Amiel Gross.
Provide freedom and flexibility in how work is done
Some people have a hard time working within set boundaries. If you’re one of them, try to break out of that traditional ways of doing things and come up with new ways of doing things. If you normally do research before coming up with ideas, have a piles of papers waiting for you when you get in the office. If you normally work in a routine, try to come up with ways to change your routine so that you’re more creative.
Let Them Test Their Wings
Sometimes you’re the only one who can see the value in an idea or the only one who knows how to implement a certain solution. If that’s the case, it’s better to be the one who asks the question rather than being the one who answers it. That way, you get to experience how a certain solution works, and you can try implementing it in your company or organization.
The right tools matter
As with any creative process, the tools you use are just as important as the ideas themselves. If you’re used to working with a specific tool, it could be hard to switch to a new one — especially if that change means a complete new way of thinking. If you think about it from an employee’s point of view, though, switching tools could be very beneficial. It could force you to look at things from a different perspective and could also help you learn more about how things work behind the scenes, adds Amiel Gross, Head of Legal at the Center for Breakthrough Medicines.
Conclusion
Encourage creative risk-taking in the office. Making mistakes and not being supported are reasons why employees do not think outside the box or propose different solutions. Tell your employees that your organization values creativity and understands its importance as much as possible. Being receptive to new ideas and recognizing risk-takers for their contributions can communicate this clearly.