How to be more Creative, Regardless of Where you Work

It’s a no-brainer that creativity is one of the most sought-after traits and skills in today’s workplace, be it for leaders or employees alike. Nowadays, with most of us working from home, it may become a concern as to how to keep creativity levels up. We assume that creativity is something that you are born with and creative people will go on to live creative lives and become the Steve Jobs and Nikola Teslas of the world.

But, as it turns out, creativity is a skill and it can be cultivated and developed. So, here are some tips on how to get those creative juices flowing:

1.      Environment is Everything: The first on your to-do list is to set up an office environment where creativity thrives. Inevitably, this will foster more teamwork, collaboration., productivity and problem-solving, morale and employee retention. Of course, not every company is Google, where the list of ‘office perks’ they have, just keeps going on and on. But there are some simple things you could do, such as hosting a monthly book club, having an office pet, encouraging game-playing during breaks, letting employees decorate their cubicles, reconsidering a business casual dress code, or encouraging personal learning and development.

2.      Avoid the Internet: The internet is a treasure trove of information, some useful and others just funny cat videos. Sometimes cat videos are important for you to recharge, but it is also important for you to step away from this onslaught of information to gain a new perspective. There are plenty of other things you could do such as taking a yoga break, putting pen to paper, getting outside, opening a book, and even daydreaming for all you know.

3.      Communication is the Key to Creative Success: Just like the Internet, constant communication can be simply overwhelming, but it is still important to keep channels of communication open outside of the Monday meetings. Try a WhatsApp chat group or something of the like. This way creativity can be on the fly too. Even go so far, as to reward your employees for their creativity. Another funny but useful idea, is to have a ‘worst’ idea contest, where employees come up with the worst ideas, just for fun and to also stimulate breakthrough ideas sometimes.

4.      Exercise for Ingenuity: When we say, exercise, we literally mean exercise, as the link between creativity and exercise is very well-documented and can even boost motivation levels. You can even try simple things such as taking a walk during your lunch break. Besides physical exercise, mental exercise is also important and there are a variety of things you can do such as people watching, playing mental what ifs (imagining alternative scenarios to situations) and rearranging your schedule.

Of course, on the surface, it may seem that these tips only apply for an office work environment, however, with a little bit of ingenuity, all of the above can be applied to a hybrid or remote working environment too. Good luck trying these tips and stay safe!