Nowadays, one of the most in-demand abilities is creative thinking. Companies praise employees that use novel and creative techniques to address issues and overcome obstacles. The value of creativity in businesses is also what helps companies and employees acquire a competitive advantage and increase productivity.
Also with machine learning and also artificial intelligence, organisations want creative thinkers who can contribute fresh ideas. After all, technology is only as good as the individuals who use it.
It is not simple to think creatively in order to solve problems. However, when you combine creativity with passion, effort, and teamwork, you may produce unique and meaningful solutions to any problem.
Increased Productivity
Another advantage of creativity and innovation in business is that it increases productivity. Coming up with innovative ideas allows you to work on new and intriguing tasks, which might be a motivation to work more. Business innovation also makes employees feel more valued since it allows them to push their boundaries and create something novel. A creative approach also promotes greater input from peers and superiors. With comments, you may identify areas for improvement and work more efficiently.
Utilizing creative thinking to solve difficulties assists you in overcoming hurdles by using them as a springboard to discover new changes and solutions. Creativity, as an innovation catalyst, assists in recreating and rejuvenating your company’s ideas through the lenses of a growth mentality, keeping you ahead of your rivals.
It does not imply that the process is simple because it needs a significant amount of effort, time, dedication, and cooperation to generate ideas that are not only distinctive and creative but also practical and feasible.
The world we live in is shaped by innovative technologies, commercial concepts, and social solutions. Every new concept has originated with a creative person or group of inventors. You could be pondering how to be more innovative if you’re motivated by new and unique designs and concepts. We define what it takes to innovate at the workplace and outline seven ways to improve your professional creativity as well as problem-solving abilities in this article.
Advantages of creative thinking
Here are ways how innovative thinking helps people and the workplace:
Enhances Motivation
Being a creative thinker necessitates taking charge of one’s career. Challenges excite people with this trait, and they look for solutions rather than dwelling on problems. People who have a positive mindset and practice proactive habits are more engaged and productive, which increases their productivity and drive.
Encourages Collaboration
Brainstorming new ideas and having faith in your problem-solving abilities are important aspects of being a successful innovator in your job. Speaking with your supervisors or coworkers about your ideas typically inspires others to be more inspired or creative. It’s likely to result in in-depth discussions, professional collaborations, and joint projects or activities. People also tend to come to you for additional assistance when they are handed creative projects or tasks if problem-solving and inventive thinking get to be a part of your brand.
What can you do at work to be more innovative?
Examine other Creative Thinkers.
Studying the jobs and careers of inventive thinkers is a good step in understanding how to think like one. Create a list of 5 or 10 persons who have influenced you. Consider those who have created tools or procedures that make things easier, as well as technologies that have changed the way others live.
You can learn about each of those people’s lives through reading biographies and also autobiographies or watching documentaries. You can find motivation, model behaviours or character qualities, or learn how influential innovators deal with problems in their careers or lives.
Bring Your expertise to the Workplace.
It’s time to apply the skills and ideas you’ve learned to your office or workplace upon committing to an optimistic mindset, networking with like-minded professionals, and analyzing the work and habits of influential innovators. Consider holding a brainstorming meeting or approaching your supervisor or coworkers about forming a cohort or team to deal with and solve workplace issues.
Gain Confidence in Your Ideas.
The final step in becoming more innovative at your work is to gain faith in your ideas. Emulate the features and traits of brilliant thinkers that you discovered during your research and come up with new ideas. If you believe there is room for improvement, contact the relevant person and express your concerns. If you think you have a great idea, share it with others and take steps to make a difference.
I spend a lot of time thinking about creativity and how to address the common misconception of who is creative. Because we conflate the idea of creative with artistic, most people don’t self-identify as creative. They fail to recognize that there is creativity in their work or in their approach to problem-solving.
The truth is, everyone has the capacity to be creative, whether they recognize it or not. For some, it may come naturally, while others take coaching. But the capacity is within us all.
Creativity consists of taking inputs and combining them in a way that is unique to you. When you put your own spin on something and let your individual interpretation have an impact, you are being creative. This happens every day in your life, whether you’re conscious of it or not. When you cook a new dish, put together a killer outfit, or solve a challenge at work, you’re exercising creativity.
By opening yourself to your creative side, you embark on a new path. One filled with solutions to problems in your life, at work, and in your community. The path isn’t always smooth, but it leads to growth and a greater sense of purpose.
Recognizing and Nurturing Your Creativity
To start, you should embrace the reality that your strengths and creativity are already a part of your work. Creativity is not a mantle many of us wear with confidence, so there is a strong tendency to feel like an imposter when applying this term to our work. Moving to a place of confidence is important to grow your outputs.
By opening yourself to your creative side, you embark on a new path. One filled with solutions to problems in your life, at work, and in your community.
When you apply your perspective and your talents to create something, you should be proud of your efforts. But too often, people shrug them off. People who have clearly done creative things will then automatically deflect or minimize them and say, “Oh, well it was just this, or it wasn’t that big of a deal.” Especially in higher education, some of those decisions impact students’ experiences.
In higher ed, your creative output has a direct impact on the lives of others, especially the students. Each of these students experiences an institution on a deep level. It’s their community, their home away from home, and a part of their legacy. If you use your perspective and your ability to create something that serves a larger purpose and makes a difference in someone’s life, you should be proud of that.
I think it’s important for people to feel confident in sharing their impact and to recognize what their creative efforts have meant to the people who were close to it. It may feel like bragging, but it’s worth saying, “Hey, I finished this thing” when someone asks how you are. Responding with something you’re working on is part of the process and an opportunity to explore new ways to expand your work.
I recommend finding a supportive community and using that safe space to talk openly and honestly about your accomplishments. Grow your confidence in your abilities, especially when you’re uncomfortable talking about your work, and you’ll gain validation in your value.
After practicing with a group, you’ll gain the courage to share your successes more naturally when asked in the future. Soon, it will feel like second nature to embrace your accomplishments. It also has the added benefit of keeping you accountable. Once you’ve said something out loud, people are invested in your success.
The Act of Creative Problem Solving
Once you recognize your innate creative strengths, think about any problems you’ve encountered in your work or life that could be improved upon. Use the design thinking model, a solutions-based approach to problem-solving, as a way to structure creative thinking. Then, move into interpretation. Rather than rushing to a solution, recognize the problem and learn as much as you can about that problem.
You want to think it through so you can fully understand the implications of any change that you make as part of the solution. I always encourage people to ask these three questions when vetting an idea:
Who does this idea, project, or solution help?
Who does it hurt?
What can be done to maximize the former condition while minimizing the latter?
We don’t work or live in a vacuum. When problem-solving, you need to stop and consider all of the costs involved with innovation. We’d love to believe our ideas will improve the lives of others, but we have to be open to the possibility that we’re wrong. I think of this as being broadminded in your creativity. We need to think big and explore as many different avenues for ideas as possible. Innovative solutions are coming from far more places than you might imagine.
Take all the time you need, because nothing is moving so fast that you don’t have time to think about it.
Be Flexible and Open
It’s important to be flexible when you’re trying to achieve something new. That comes into play in your capacity to change as a project evolves. I advise taking inspiration from people and opening the creative process to collaboration. This is another reason why it’s so important to offer up your work-in-progress, first in your safe space, but ultimately in your everyday life.
The best ideas come out of thinking creatively. If you’re wondering how to get ideas that change the game, there are some activities that can help boost ideation.
Here are ten tried and tested activities for charging up your creativity:
1. Take A Class
Learning something new is like giving your brain a vitamin boost.
Whatever the topic, you’ll feel challenged, energised and reinvigorated. Look for evening classes in a subject you know nothing about at your local adult education or evening college.
Places like City Lit offer evening, weekend and one day classes in subjects ranging from sculpture to philosophy.
If you can’t make it to a physical location, or you’re often on the move, consider online classes.
Masterclass offers courses taught by some of the greatest minds in the world. Dip in and out, or follow a single course through to completion, and you might even get inspired to start a project of your own.
2. Keep a Journal
If you’re wondering how to get ideas, there’s no better method than journaling.
It’s simple, therapeutic and can be done completely in private.
Try writing ‘morning pages’ or ‘evening pages’ – freeform, automatic writing about anything that comes to mind for either a set period of time or a specific page number.
It’s a great way to offload the stresses and strains of the day, so you can open yourself up to new ideas.
3. Use Your Commute
For most people, a commute might as well be dead time.
Whether you’re battling an early start, or exhausted after a long working day, it can be tempting to just sit back and zone out.
Check out while checking in by listening to podcasts or audiobooks.
Non-fiction books are a great way to learn a new skill or perspective, while fiction can spark your imagination and open you up to new ideas.
Plus, if your eyes are tired from looking at a computer screen all day, this is the best way to tackle the classics.
There is a podcast for every possible niche and interest, so spend ten minutes online tonight and line up something for tomorrow morning.
Wired magazine has a great list here, or just see what the BBC Sounds app has to offer.
4. Challenge Your Body
Creativity isn’t just about thinking outside the box; make the most of that mind-body connection and throw the whole box away!
A physical challenge is a great way to disconnect from a busy brain and relax.
If you feel like you need a manageable goal that’s outside of work, consider signing up for something fun but challenging, like a Tough Mudder race.
If you want something more regular, ClassPass is a fun and flexible way to try new and exciting exercise classes in your area, and the act of choosing can feel creative in and of itself.
Need a little pick-me-up right now?
Challenge your body in small and unexpected ways that also work out your brain.
Try brushing your teeth with the ‘wrong’ hand (you’ll know which one this is once you give it a go!).
5. Meditate
Meditation doesn’t have to be hard and boring, and the benefits really are incredible.
You can either meditate to clear your mind, or meditate on a particular topic: like how to get ideas!
If you’re new to meditation and want to build a practice, try Headspace for some guidance.
If you just want to try something new or chill out, you could also light a candle and gaze at the flame for a couple of minutes, or listen to some classical music while letting your mind wander.
6. Go to sleep
Have you ever struggled to solve a problem, only to go to sleep and gain some new perspective in the morning?
Our brain processes thoughts while we sleep, meaning that one of the best ways to increase idea generation might be to stop stressing and take a nap!
The benefits of sleep are tangible and significant, from improved energy levels, clearer thinking and an elevated mood – all things that contribute to increased creativity in the long run.
7. Track Your Moods
Our bodies go through all kinds of cyclical changes, both monthly and seasonal.
If you’re trying to be more creative, it’s important that you listen to, and work with, these changes.
If you’re a woman, you may find that you struggle to access creative thought in the days before your period, but have amazing insight into how to have good ideas in the week or so immediately after.
Learn how to anticipate this by tracking your cycle with an app like Clue.
In general, you may find that it’s harder to be creative in the winter months, and easier when the sun begins to emerge in springtime.
Consider using a SAD lamp to boost your energy if you’re feeling particularly lacklustre during the darkest times of the year.
8. Meet Someone New
If you’re like most people, you’re probably spending the majority of your time in the company of the same people: family, colleagues and friends.
Mix this up and spark your creativity by expanding your social circle, even just temporarily.
Explore networking drinks or special interest meet ups in your area, or consider using a targeted app like Bumble Bizz or Bumble BFF.
9. Organise Your Space
We’ve all heard tidying guru and Netflix star Marie Kondo explain that a tidy home leads to a tidy mind, and it’s true!
It might seem like extra admin, or even a distraction technique, but organising and cleaning your space can be a creative activity too.
Regularly put aside time to reorganise and reorient your space for some fresh perspective.
10. Research What The Pros Do
Think about who in your industry is breaking the mould: the mavericks and the trailblazers.
Go and see if you can find any interviews with them where they talk about their creative process, and the techniques that they follow when they’re wondering how to get ideas.
Some of the biggest businesses and most powerful leaders in the world have written amazing books about the space where their professional and creative processes meet.
