Creative thinking is considered one of the most relevant skills for professionals to have. And this is a backed-up statement: according to the 2023 "Future of Work" Report by the World Economic Forum, that places analytical and creative thinking as the most valued skills in workers of tomorrow (and of today).
So, curious to know how you can build creativity among teams and foster creative thinking in your work and career? Then carry on with the reading (and enjoy)! 😊
Ways to build creativity among teams:
Generate a Lot (Really a Lot) of Ideas: providing a broad selection of options helps improve and support suggestions made by different individuals in a team. This also makes up for a comprehensive and diverse look into the topic being discussed (diverse ideas = innovative solutions). This process of coming up with different perspectives - the so-called "idea quota" - ensures more optimal and productive ideas. And, sometimes, it is also important to take some risks and create the space for things to fail - this is where teams can grow the most.
Set Time Aside in Your Day for Unscheduled Time: use this unscheduled time to find inspiration for creative ideas and solutions required for businesses to progress. This also allows teams to think and prepare ahead of issues arising, by being strategic with the direction you aim your organization to go.
Try Something New: expose yourself and your team to new and innovative contexts that will foster creativity and provide professionals with new perspectives on work and career. This can be as simple as picking up a new hobby, going somewhere new, or paying attention to specific details from your surroundings that you haven't before.
Provide the Space for Creativity: without an environment that advocates for creative thinking and innovation, teams cannot grow and develop. This can come through simple actions such as providing opportunities for brainstorming or giving employees the time to rest and recharge, as well as the chances to work and be involved in creative projects within or outside their organizations.
Allow For Professional Development: this introduces and facilitates the development of important skills in teams. It also fosters feelings of fulfillment and an ongoing growth mindset in individuals, who are given the resources and opportunities to progress as professionals. By facilitating employees' pursuits of passion projects (e.g., hobbies, volunteering), organizations are also capable of harnessing creativity and happiness in the workplace. And this then of course translates into higher inherent motivations in individuals to perform well at work and to develop a positive image of the organization they work at.
Recognition and Rewarding: These might not seem like much, but small acts such as recognition of creative projects, ideas, and accomplishments or providing teams with intrinsic and extrinsic rewards for their creative output can enhance professionals' motivation and interest in creative projects.
Tips on fostering creativity and creative thinking skills:
Brainstorming: think of an issue or goal you currently have, and start brainstorming ideas. That's it. It not only helps tune into your creativity but also develops your sense of perspective and problem-solving skills. Don't be critical of your ideas and just let the process flow naturally. You will see that the ideas you come up with are much more innovative since they are not restricted by the rationales around you.
Look for Connectivity: Consider the "bigger picture" and try mind mapping the connections and interplay between processes, people, and ideas that have maybe gone unnoticed. Again, doing this will also provide you with a new and improved sense of perspective (also great for you to build strategic thinking skills).
Have Time To Do Nothing: Taking a break from the world gives you an opportunity to daydream, and distance yourself from life's problems and complexities. If you don't allow yourself this time, you are not able to find alternative ways of approaching things and build your creativity, as this becomes a luxury in the midst of your busy and hectic life. Give yourself 90 to 120 minutes of uninterrupted time to start the day with that much-needed moment of distance (and essentially stop reality for a bit to allow creativity to wander).
Think Inside the Box: This tip kind of goes against everything that was said before, but hear me out. Sometimes wandering without any limitations is not very helpful. Without connections, or a start and end goal, you can get stuck in your creative process. Sometimes (only sometimes), restricting your creativity helps you prioritize and come up with ideas that are specifically tailored to the situation at hand.
Experience New Things: This one is pretty straightforward. Stepping out of your comfort zone and exploring new feelings, perspectives, and activities can really help develop your creativity as you will then be more tuned in to new and diverse views and perspectives of the world and how we experience them.
Learn Something New: This goes hand in hand with approaching life and work with a sense of genuine curiosity. Seek new experiences and skills to learn from every day (it just makes things interesting as well).
There you go! Some tips and tricks to develop your creative self and build a sense of novelty and wonder towards the world that allows you to find new and innovative ways of working and developing your career. It is an invaluable skill that all professionals should introduce in their professional (and personal) lives and that perfectly complement other equally relevant skills - e.g., strategic thinking, critical thinking, problem-solving - to master at work.
What does being creative mean to you?
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