Another Handful of Tips 91R – Creating Creativity

The five best tips to stimulate creativity

Creative people often see familiar things as old-fashioned and out-of-date and want to create something new and worth-while.

Select new staff with care. Recruit ambitious people with new ideas.

1. Provide working conditions where creativity can flourish

Encourage workers to think about the future. Use brain-storming, mind-mapping and other innovative techniques when planning activities.

Foster co-operation and aim for a friendly, enjoyable, progressive stress-free workplace.

2. Encourage workers to question traditional practices

Good communication systems and honest feedback allow people to feel free to express opinions and suggest alternatives.

3. Aim to make tomorrow’s effort better than today’s

Question every task and evaluate it.

“Why do we do things this way?” “Is there a better way?” “How can we do better next time?”

4. Let people make mistakes, without blame

Accept the fact that there will be mistakes. Treat mistakes as lessons learned.

Workers should not be afraid to fail. Do not criticise unless mistakes are made too frequently.

5. Challenge people to solve specific problems and reward them for innovative ideas

Let them know you appreciate their curiosity, imagination and creativity.

Be generous with your rewards.

-Geoffrey Moss
mossassociates.co.nz

“Negativity and blame are the enemy of creativity.”

SOURCE: “Secrets for New Managers” Moss Associates Ltd and Cengage Learning Asia. Also available as an e-book from Amazon.com and VitalSource.