Creativity can make all the difference in your business. If you think about it, all companies start out small; but they get bigger because they figure out how to do something differently than everyone else. It doesn’t take a special talent or knowledge for your workers to be creative. But it does take encouragement and the right company culture to build an “idea factory.” Here’s what you can do to foster creativity in your workplace.
Building a creative culture
Certain actions can promote good ideas, while other actions can squelch them. The key is to increase the first while avoiding the second. You can try any of the following:
- Consider all ideas—even the “crazy” ones. When brainstorming to solve a problem, never discount an employee’s suggestion because at first it sounds far-fetched. When you shoot down ideas, your employees will be reluctant to supply more. The good news is that thoughts and ideas tend to build upon each other; just because one might not work, it could in turn spurn another idea, and another. Follow each idea to its conclusion and see where it leads you.
- Don’t think “why,” but “why not?” Responses such as, “That’s the way we’ve always done it,” “It costs too much” or “It’s just too hard” simply destroy innovation. The fact is, to stay competitive in today’s marketplace, businesses must constantly come up with new and better ways to do things—within resources and budget. Instead of thinking of all the ways an idea can’t work, instead think of all the ways it might.
- Put good ideas into action. When you actually put your employees’ ideas to good use, they’ll be motivated to stay creative. Nothing is quite as encouraging as the feeling that you made a difference.
- Allow room for error. People make mistakes—it’s inevitable. But it’s how we learn from our mistakes that helps us progress towards bigger and better things. Sometimes your company will need to take risks to solve problems; this is all part of the creative process. You’ll just need to allow your employees room to learn from their mistakes so they’re not afraid to think outside the box.
- Maintain a stimulating work environment. Surroundings can also help the creative process. Think about it: a dull, drab workplace isn’t as mentally stimulating as one with interesting colors, fun décor and natural lighting. It can also help to offer “thinking nooks”—quiet places where employees can escape to gather their thoughts, or hold brainstorming sessions or meetings.
- Offer plenty of praise. It’s always in your company’s best interest to reward hard work and success. A simple, “Good job today!” can mean the difference between a positive attitude and a downbeat one. It can also help to offer rewards and incentives for hard work, such as money, prizes, time off, etc.
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