5 Ways to Bring Creativity to Your Work
When’s the last time you sat down to draw a picture?
I recently participated in a creative workshop for founders where we were asked to draw our answers to questions. I, for one, couldn’t remember the last time I had drawn anything. As a writer and speaker, my goal is to use words to paint the picture of the story. Still, I found this drawing exercise both clarifying and energizing.
Instead of getting stuck on the “right words”, I allowed myself to think freely. As a result, I came up with clarity that I hadn’t known was there. It got me to thinking about the power of creativity at work.
Of course, creativity doesn’t necessarily mean visual arts—it can be thinking about challenges in a new way, innovating solutions, and creating something new. Organizations rely on innovation for continued growth, and there are benefits for you, too. When you’re more creative at work, you’re contributing to your own learning and job satisfaction.
Here are five ways you can bring creativity to your work every day:
1. Ask Yourself Questions
One of the biggest limits on your creativity at work can be yourself. It happens when you overthink things or decide they won’t be good enough. To overcome this, ask yourself questions when you’re working on a project, such as:
· What will be lost if I don’t share this idea in the meeting?
· What would I suggest to a colleague to do?
· What’s the best possible outcome?
Your goal is to get into a mindset to enable you to approach your work differently.
2. Consider the User
Put yourself in the shoes of the audience for the project you’re developing and what they will most need. This is referred to as design thinking. For example, if you’re developing a new onboarding process, survey new employees after 6-12 months to ask them what they wish they had known earlier. You can also simulate the experience in your planning and decision-making by considering the “empty chair” approach: you envision a chair (or physically set up an empty chair as a visual reminder) that your client/customer and your team would be sitting in at the table with you, so you can consider their needs and goals as part of your process. This strategy helps you develop the ability empathize with other people’s perspectives—and remember why you’re doing this important work.
3. Create Space
When you’re in back-to-back meetings all day, your schedule doesn’t allow for space for creativity (or thinking time!). Find some time each week where you can dedicate time to reflect on your biggest projects and long-term goals. As a team leader, protect time for your team members to do their best thinking, too. You may even set aside one day a month to encourage them to work together on creative solutions to organizational challenges.
Creating space means finding time to rest, too. The sparks of innovation often happen when you’re not working. This is why so many people have their best ideas when they’re in the shower or out running. Give yourself space to step away from work, so you can bring your most creative self to your work.
4. Don’t Discount the Small Things
Innovation isn’t always the biggest things, at least not at first. When thinking of ideas, write down all of them instead of limiting yourself to one option. When trying to solve a problem, consider multiple solutions. When feeling stuck, draw your answer. Commit to doing one small new thing, dare I say One Bold Move a Day. Over time, these practices will build your ability to think creatively.
5. Reward Creative Thinking
If you’re a team leader, consider how you can publicly acknowledge and reward innovation. Though not all ideas will lead to significant outcomes, there is something you can learn from every experience. To build creativity on your team, you’ll have to demonstrate for others that innovation is valued—and failure is allowed.
Creativity isn’t just for making the business better. It’s also about infusing joy and energy into your work. Sharing new ideas and trying out initiatives are how an organization—and you—can grow and evolve.