Essential elements for improving creativity at work.

We often think of creativity as a very difficult ability to control – because that "Eureka!" moment can suddenly flash through your mind at any time, while you're in the bathroom or driving. And after every company has experienced both success and failure in trying to invent something, creativity is still something you only realize when it's already there.

However, if you consider the scientific theories behind creative ideas, you can learn how to generate creativity and use it to benefit your company.

FACTORS THAT INSPIRE CREATIVITY

FACTOR 1: CURIOSITY

This is a quality shared by almost all creative geniuses. Albert Einstein once wrote, "I have no special talent. I am simply curious about everything in the world," and in his biography of Leonardo da Vinci, author Peter J. Gelb concludes that the root of Da Vinci's greatness was his "unwavering pursuit of learning."

Marcial Losada, a psychologist and expert in team dynamics, discovered that the most effective teams are those that ask questions more frequently than those that only defend their positions. For example, if someone proposes a new marketing campaign, someone in the questioning group might ask, "How long do you think it will take us to launch this campaign?" Conversely, someone in the defensive group might immediately state, "It will probably take three months to launch the product." This demonstrates that the simplest way to foster creativity in the workplace is to encourage employees to actively ask more questions.

FACTOR 2: OPEN-MINDED THINKING

Losada discovered that successful teams tend to focus more on objective factors than subjective ones, meaning they are more receptive to outside perspectives. Therefore, instead of focusing solely on themselves, they tend to broaden their attention outward by collaborating and learning from what others are doing.

In his book "Steal Like an Artist," Austin Kleon, a writer and artist, once said, "All creative works are made from what already exists." This is a very reasonable point. Typically, creativity initially stems from combining, building, and developing ideas. Individuals and companies can become more creative simply by viewing the world with an open mind, absorbing new experiences and ideas, and then deciding what is worth "stealing."

FACTOR 3: POSITIVITY

Several recent studies indicate that a sense of happiness in the workplace leads to increased productivity and hard work. Additionally, another study found that people are more creative when they feel happy and are internally motivated.

Dr. David Logan, author of "Tribal Leadership," points out that teamwork becomes more effective when you shift your mindset from "I am great" to "We are great." Ultimately, this leads to "a great life." This positive attitude broadens your perspective and enhances your ability to solve problems creatively.

Given the evidence above, how can companies motivate their employees and unleash their creativity? Here are some methods to cultivate three key elements that foster creativity among your company's employees.

METHODS TO PROMOTE CREATIVITY

METHOD 1: ORGANIZING LUNCH MEETINGS COMBINED WITH LEARNING SESSIONS

Discover each employee's unusual skills and passions by organizing monthly lunches that allow them to share their cooking knowledge or love of vintage bicycles. Your employees will learn something new and build stronger relationships with their colleagues as they discover shared interests.

METHOD 2: INVEST IN EMPLOYEE TRAINING

The ability to ask questions, show concern for others, and maintain a positive attitude are all entirely trainable skills. Training employees through real-world examples from work and daily life can provide your staff with useful tools and lessons they can immediately apply to customers and colleagues.

METHOD 3: IMPROVING THE MEETING AGENDA

If your team holds regular meetings, make a few simple but effective changes to the meeting agenda. Starting a meeting with good news will create a positive atmosphere for your team. When discussing issues, ask five “why questions” to help employees see the problem from different perspectives and understand its root causes. To encourage greater consideration of others, ask meeting participants to acknowledge and thank other members when they report on their progress and achievements.

METHOD 4: CREATING CREATIVE TIMES

Google is famous for its “20% time” policy (employees are allowed to dedicate a workday to other projects); Facebook is known for its hackathons (short-duration programming competitions). At appropriate times, give employees time to work on projects they enjoy to foster curiosity. For example, employees could freely attend Startup Weekend events to find their own creative inspiration.

METHOD 5: ASK FOR OPINIONS FROM EMPLOYEES

Unsure about which methods can effectively encourage creativity among employees? Ask them about it. Your team will surely have some great suggestions for solving this problem.

Don't wait for sudden inspiration to come to you in the bathroom. You can absolutely create creative breakthroughs by harnessing the power of curiosity, reaching out to others, and fostering a positive attitude at your company. And you'll be amazed at the results these methods can bring.

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