How can creativity be used to improve decision-making in management?

Creativity is imagination, visualisation, and knowledge to create. It's about having the space and freedom to think, explore and discover. Creativity allows thoughts to flow and shape into ideas that solve problems, overcome challenges, improve processes, and create value for yourself and others. Creativity is the art of what is possible, where ideas can turn into opportunities, and where emotions and feelings stir. Experiences, knowledge and diverse thinking contribute to creativity by inspiring imaginative ideas, expanding insight and strengthening the creative process, especially when combined with the knowledge, experiences and diverse thinking of others.

Creativity is all about your life experience. Diverse outlook and experience allows you to look at issue from different perspectives. Impressions received from various activities will be your fuel for creativity.

We have entered in a constant changing era. Creativity can play a significant role in improving decision-making in management by offering innovative approaches to problem-solving and helping organizations adapt to dynamic environments. This can be by generating alternative solutions, thinking outside conventional bounderies, enhancing innovation and rapidly adapting to change.

Obsession with creativity is definitely harmful. Some decisions are just to be made. Not every solution must be "rainbow from a fairy tale", so don't become a clown. It also worth to "be creative" in alternatives. Whenever you have made decision, or solution is obvious - still think about the alternatives and highlight their cons. This will help you to gain confidence.

I would only consider creativity in decision making at the stage of creation of solutions, even would limit it to brainstorming and mind mapping only. The rest stages of making decision are subject to critical thinking and assessment.

Gain knowledge about techniques and tools that can help with creativity, for example, brainstorming, story/mind mapping, SWOT analysis, creative problem solving, and 5 Whys. Define the problem or challenge to be addressed. Determine the decision you must make and the reason(s) why, as this will set the proper focus. This clarity is a great entry point for your creative efforts, enabling you to generate ideas for what you are trying to solve. Evaluate, select and prioritise the ideas generated. Create a decision matrix to structure options highlighting critical criteria/valuable outcomes and risks for each option. I’ve found this a helpful tool in the workplace to communicate clear options to senior stakeholders to support a final decision.

To improve your creativity, I’ve found these tips helpful: Create a space where imagination, visualisation, and creative thinking can thrive. Practise visualising ideas. Start with a clear objective that fuels your creativity, and frequently look back at this so your creativity remains aligned. Embrace an open-minded approach and welcome all ideas. Capture all ideas that emerge as options for further exploration. Resist passing judgement or making final decisions too quickly to allow more options to emerge. Seek knowledge and experiences from various sources. Collaborate and learn from others, tapping into their insights and expertise. Embrace feedback to help your creativity flourish.

In these uncertain times, fostering creativity in your team is essential for all leaders and managers. Here's how you can support your team: ? Create an environment where creativity can thrive, where all ideas are welcome, and where it is a safe space. ? Involve your team in creating an environment that gets their creativity flowing and enables open, constructive conversations. ? Allow time for creative activities. ? Provide information to help generate ideas, such as defining objectives/problems and explaining stakeholder value. ? Reward positive behaviours, such as working collaboratively, actively listening, and being inclusive. ? Motivate and encourage your team to learn from ideas that didn't work and to generate new ideas.

Use brainstorming techniques to generate a wide array of ideas and potential solutions. Encourage team members to think freely and creatively, without judgment or criticism. This can lead to novel approaches and alternative options for decision-making.