4 simple ways to unlock creativity in the workplace
Creativity is something that people are born with, right? Either you have it, or you don’t. It’s something that’s gaining more importance in the workplace. 72 percent of workers believe their future success depends on being creative, according to a Steelcase survey.
In 1968, scientist George Land tested 1600 children to see how creative they were. Starting at around 5 years of age, 98 percent ranked in the genius level on the creative scale. At 10 years, it was 30 percent. At 15, 12 percent. When Land tested adults he found only 2 percent were in the same level.
Perhaps, it’s a learnt skill after all. It just needs to be looked after, trained, and developed. Divergent thinking is where we use our creativity. It’s non-linear and idea-flowing. Convergent thinking is more logical, where we use information to come up with a single ‘best’ answer.
According to Land, as we age, we begin to mix the two types of thinking and start censoring our ideas before we even share them in case they are ‘wrong’.
Some of our best ideas come from divergent thinking, where we explore new options and solutions, rather than relying on the ‘we’ve always done it this way’, tried and tested methods.
Creativity is good for business
It helps us think of new ideas and innovations and encourages us to collaborate and be productive. Having an open, free space where everyone speaks their ideas without worry translates to a happier, open, and more engaged workforce. According to the WEF, it’s a growing job skill required to be successful in the future too. When it comes to the future of work, we’ll work alongside technology like AI to amplify our ingenuity. As a result our distinctly human skills, like creativity and emotion, will become increasingly important.
Not being creative is something that will hold your organisation back. According to the State of Create 2016 survey, UK businesses that invest in creativity are 81 percent more productive. They’re also 80 percent more likely to have happier employees.
For the bottom line, that translates to being 84 percent more innovative and 75 percent more financially successful.
Currently, 61 percent of leaders don’t think their organisation is creative. What hinders creativity is a mixture of culture, environment, tools, and devices.
So how do you surface your organisation’s creative flow?
Creativity hits everyone in different ways, so it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Your employees have different working styles and what works for one, won’t be the best solution for another.
1. Re-evaluate your office space
You need a variety of different collaborative and working spaces, so your employees can work where they feel most inspired and productive. Do you have the right mix of collaborative spaces where you can explore ideas, and quiet areas where your employees can get the focus time that they need to succeed?
2. Create the right culture
Having a culture that’s open and rewards people for sharing ideas will result in better, more creative outcomes. At Microsoft, we have a culture of “come as you are, do what you love”. We actively encourage people to embrace who they are and their unique perspectives, so they feel comfortable to share them with others. Asking questions and challenging ideas is also a key part of our culture. There’s never a silly question and often, when we challenge why things are the way they are, we find more creative solutions to our problems. This is where having a diverse and inclusive workforce becomes an important factor of your business success.
3. Encourage flexible working
Some of your employees will have the best ideas when they’re away from the office and have the time and space to think. By introducing a remote and flexible working policy, you’re more likely to encourage creative thinking. In addition, you’ll create a much better employee experience, helping your workforce manage their work-life balance more effectively. This results in better business outcomes and a more motivated workforce.
4. Leverage the power of technology
Surfacing creativity in your organisation isn’t just about creating the right culture. It’s also about ensuring you have the right tools and technology in place to help foster that creativity. 78 percent of UK employees believe technology helps them be more creative. We’ve designed our devices to empower everyone to be their own type of creative. They’re created with a flexible approach in mind to help everyone surface their creative potential, no matter how they work, so they can drive innovation at work.
For employees that are more collaborative and prefer to bounce ideas off their colleagues, perhaps the Surface Hub is more suited, providing a space where they can draw out their ideas and share them with others. Employees who have their most innovative ideas when they’re working outside the office may need something more flexible with a long battery life, such as the Surface Laptop, Surface Pro or the Surface Book, depending on how they work best.
With the ability to use Microsoft 365 on all our devices, you don’t have to worry about keeping your business data secure when your workforce is working remotely either. It’s all taken care of, so you can focus on what really matters: driving innovation and creative thinking so you can grow your business.
Explore how to surface creativity in your business.
