Yahoo Finance Four ways businesses can boost creativity among staff
When the majority of offices are grey, airless and based on functionality, it can be difficult to feel particularly inspired. And when most of us spend our days working to tight deadlines, dealing with heavy workloads and responding to a constant barrage of emails, not much space is left for creative thinking.
Despite this, though, creativity is a valued business asset. Being creative doesn’t necessarily just mean having artistic flair, but it can mean better problem-solving, thinking of new ideas and finding different ways to achieve a work goal, regardless of your profession.
Encouraging creativity is something that benefits employers too, with research suggesting companies that foster creativity are 3.5 times more likely to outperform their peers in revenue growth. Creativity is also CEOs’ most valuable leadership quality for success, according to an IBM survey.
Whether creativity can be “made” is up for debate, but it can certainly be encouraged – something businesses are beginning to embrace in the workplace.
Switching up your seating
Some companies believe switching up your seating arrangements every day or week is a good way to promote communication between different colleagues and discuss new ideas.
It might seem like a nuisance to pack up your desk and shift all your belongings to the other side of the office, but some managers swear by it. Steve Jobs was particular about where he wanted his bathrooms in the Pixar headquarters, so employees would bump into each other and talk more.
Research also suggests that where you sit matters. In 2016, a study by Cornerstone OnDemand and Harvard Business School found that rearranging desks or sitting next to someone with a complementary work style can be a good, cost-effective way to bring energy to an office and boost performance.
Bring nature indoors
Small differences to an office can mean significant changes to the way people work. Unsurprisingly, staring at four plain walls all day isn’t the best way to promote creativity – but injecting some colour or introducing plants can help.
People who work in environments that incorporate natural elements report a 15% higher level of wellbeing, 6% percent more productivity overall, and are 15% more creative.
Make the office fun
Not all offices are designed the same – some have a coffee machine and a small kitchen to eat your lunch in, others have slides, smoothie stations and more.
The Dr Martens office in Camden, north London, has a wall of amplifiers and meeting rooms themed around punk, rock and indie music. There are plenty of social spaces, coffee machines which deliver milkshakes and even wellbeing rooms, perfect for when you need a break from the daily grind.
Research shows happier workers are more likely to be creative and productive – and adding fun extras to the office makes staff feel more appreciated.
Share ideas
Sharing your thoughts about how to improve a business isn’t always easy, but it is important to boost creativity in the workplace. Ensuring employees’ ideas are welcomed and accepted without judgement is key, which might mean holding brainstorming sessions in small teams – so people don’t feel embarrassed to speak up.
Accounting firm Grant Thornton UK use online platforms to share information and ideas and thousands of staff members have chosen to be involved.
Research suggests the UK is lagging behind other European countries when it comes to promoting innovation and creativity at work. While 67% feel able to offer their ideas at work, only 57% think management are receptive to new ideas, according to a 2016 study by BMC Software.
