What is creativity?

We often encourage our staff to be creative, but how do we define creativity?  While we encourage staff to speak up with new ideas and processes, are we actively discouraging some changes and sending mixed messages?

Creativity can be new ideas and processes, certainly, but it can also be achieved in resolving problems, preparing budgets, and thinking differently.  If we assign a task to someone and they go about working it contrary to what we expected, do we step in and stop them, redirecting them to what we had in mind?  If someone resolves an issue, but it’s not how leadership would have resolved it, do we praise them or do we “teach” them what we really wanted?

It’s easy to squelch creativity in an organization by subtle words and gestures.  If we truly want a creative staff, we must be open to resolutions that don’t follow the paths we expect.  In addition, we need to remember that failure can be one of the biggest inspirations or detriments in being open to creative ideas.

Do we celebrate mistakes as opportunities to learn and improve, or do we frown and make it clear we need better outcomes and aren’t interested in the process?

As leaders, it’s easy to assume our way is best and expect others to follow along, but we’re missing the point.  Allowing our staff to find their own path, encouraging them on the way, and applauding efforts at ingenuity encourages a culture of growth and development.

Rethink what creativity means to you and your team and do what you can to inspire new ways of moving forward.

#creativity #positivity #hrconsulting #managementsolutions

Creativity comes in several different forms. Are we truly encouraging new ideas in our organizations?