Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Injecting creativity into the company's DNA

Fostering a culture of creativity is not just a requirement for advertising agencies or art-related ventures. Any company can benefit from having a creative and innovative team, no matter what industry it's in, because these characteristics extend beyond having artistic skill into having the ability to come up with unique and inventive solutions to problems.


Image source: pixabay.com

To motivate more creative thought, leaders should be open to their team about the company's goals and how each member contributes to achieving these objectives. When employees see the bigger picture and are made aware of how they fit into the puzzle, they can be emboldened to actively think of ways to help the company reach its objectives instead of just waiting for orders. Meeting up with the team regularly and being open to suggestions and really executing good ones encourages members to become innovative.

That said, giving the opportunity to be creative may mean that team members need time to explore the solutions they want to propose. If an employee wants to work on a project or look into a means of streamlining processes that may benefit the company, leaders should consider allowing them some time to fine-tune these, especially if these can prove advantageous to the business in the long run. These may not always succeed, and in those cases it can serve as a learning experience for everyone but if it does succeed, everyone can reap rewards.

 Image source: pixabay.com

Finally, essential to making creativity a part of the company's DNA is to create a workspace that inspires employees. Instead of keeping employees in claustrophobia-inducing cubicles, consider a beautiful, well-lit open space that encourages creativity and collaboration. Some companies have well-stocked pantries, freedom walls, and even lounges to reinvigorate team members when they feel like they're burning out. After all, when employees are happy to go to work, their creative juices get running, and they can do great things.

Emile Haddad of Seattle is business coach who believes that creativity, leadership, and accountability are essential to a company's success. Visit this blog for more insights on entrepreneurial success.