For years we have come into contact with creative borderline experiences in our workshops. Since then, we have firmly believed that everyone is creative - and this belief is confirmed anew in every workshop. This is certainly primarily due to the consistently positive experiences with our clients, but also to our pragmatic definition of creativity (loosely based on Morris "Moe" Stein):
Creativity is not having a special or even artistic talent. Creativity is creating something new that is useful!
And what company doesn't need that? We are not the only ones who are sure that creativity is one of the great success factors of the future. So why is it still neglected in so many places?
We therefore plead ...
... to companies: Free the creativity of your employees!
Creative work is often unjustifiably withheld from employees in certain departments, e.g. marketing, innovation or strategy. Sure, here and there special projects are created in which creativity can be used selectively ... but that does not make it a serious tool.
We find: Creativity is needed everywhere where problems are to be solved, potentials identified and new things designed! This has nothing to do with the name of the department. Challenge your employees to be creative within their projects! Give them the necessary "space to play". This includes the official recognition of creative processes as a means of work as well as the offer of space, material and time.
... to individual employees: use your creativity confidently as a tool!
Shockingly often we meet people who claim not to be creative. Often these are those whose success is measured by criteria such as efficiency and activities performed. The fact is that they usually do not take the mental and temporal space to get to the bottom of problems and creatively design solutions.
We say: Everyone is creative, just in different ways ... including you!
Developing spectacular ideas is just as creative as finding out which ones are the best in a given situation. Going deep into a new idea and optimising it can also be highly creative - just like the initial finding of the idea itself. A good team consists of members with different creative thinking styles. Valuing or even devaluing these different styles should not take place.
So admit to being creative!
Venture into new territory - and get the top management on board by presenting your ideas and ways with passion!
See failure and detours as an opportunity to try out another, perhaps better solution!
Have as much fun as possible! Almost every task has aspects that are exciting or entertaining in their own way.
Conclusion: Companies can create structures to give creativity more space across departmental boundaries. Only in this way can creativity find the fertile soil in which it can grow, give pleasure and bear fruit that is palatable to all.
More about this in our next blog article!