Encouraging Creative Ideas at Work

No matter what industry you work in, encouraging creativity at work is always a great way to improve work conditions and productivity. Whether it’s coming up with ideas and solutions that are original and worthwhile, or figuring out how to improve efficiency, creating an environment that encourages creative thinking can dramatically boost your employees’ productivity. While most employees like to think that they are creative, the fact is that we can all benefit from a boost to our creative flair. The good news is that creativity can be nurtured and developed.My Career Success is here to provide you with smart ways to adopt in the workplace to boost your employee’s innovation in their work.

Encourage Constructive Criticism during Brainstorming Sessions

Brainstorming is a vital part of generating creative ideas, but many companies conduct such sessions in a way that actually suppresses creative output. When ideas are presented many team members hold back on their opinions to avoid conflict at all costs. Without candid discussions about the validity of each idea, employees will hesitate to give alternatives. Proper criticism of each idea results in more creativity as team members feel a desire to build on someone else’s idea. If you hold back on criticism, all ideas will be considered right and employees won’t need to think outside the box to consider unexplored possibilities. Don’t surround yourself with “yes” people. You need people who aren’t afraid to tell you when you are wrong.

Mix Employees of Different Experience & Backgrounds

Most employees prefer to work with people who have similar perspectives and opinions, but they end up generating the same ideas because they think the same. The importance of workplace diversity in idea generation cannot be overlooked. Companies that purposely hires people from different backgrounds, experience levels and fields have greater creativity levels, because the more diverse a group’s knowledge and opinions are, the more original ideas will come up.

Allow Your Employees to Take Regular Break

Employees who take regular breaks from their work are much more creative and energetic than those who stay glued to their desks all day long. While giving your employees too much time to “play” might seem counter-intuitive, studies have revealed that taking regular breaks and vacations reduces stress, which can lead to more ideas, enhanced creativity and increased innovation. Regular breaks can simply mean giving employees a quiet space to relax and clear their minds.

Build your Team’s Creative Confidence

If you want your team to be more creative, you need to give them the permission to fail. If you respond to setbacks and unsuccessful ideas with despair or blame, the team will get discouraged. However, when you turn difficulties and challenges into a learning experience, you shape the attitude of your team. Create a culture of creative confidence, which is the ability to come up with new ideas and the courage to try them out. Change your team’s mindset from avoiding failure to seeking it as much as possible or necessary to obtain the success.