Creativity is an important part of what we do, but it’s
really an important part of any business. Some businesses are able to get by on
age-old ideas that just haven’t really changed much, but for most of us
business is a fluid machine, changing yearly and even monthly. It doesn’t just
take grit to get through the hard times, but creativity as well. Want to spark
creativity in your environment? Here are a few ways.
Better Practices
When you’re hired for almost any job, you’re taught what the
best practices in your particular role include. That means, essentially, that
the way they tell you to do things gets results most of the time. But “best
practices” sounds awfully final, doesn’t it? Can there really be no better way
to do a job than the one best practice?
Instead of thinking in best practices, think in terms of
“better practices.” Yes, your best practice produces results, but there might
be even better ways out there to achieve results. Boxing yourself or your
employees into a best practice means you’ll never see innovation. Use what
works, but don’t be afraid to improve on it, or change it entirely to make it
work better.
Unbounded Meetings
Meetings can go haywire all too easily, and leave everyone
in the room grumbling to actually go back to their desks and work. The thing
is, putting minds together might not always make for an efficient meeting on
one topic, but it sure can spark some innovative ideas. If you’re having
meetings where you need to accomplish a single goal related to a single
project, keep them on track as best you can, but open up the boundaries of them
a little bit. Add another board to the room where you can jot down the
tangential ideas that pop up in that flurry of creativity. Revisit them in
their own meetings, and see what else happens.
Let Them Choose
This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to loosen up the
dress code, but letting people do things their own way can really get the
engines moving for some people. Some people do well with white boards, but
others may prefer chalk. Others may channel their inner Russell Crowe and write
ideas on windows. Allow everyone to decorate their desks, draw on their coffee
mugs with crayons, or whatever else it takes to open their minds. People are at
their most creative when they’re able to choose how they do it.
