Weaving Creativity into Our Work

You don't need to be an artist to be creative

Creativity is not just for those who call themselves artists. At its most basic definition, creativity is the use of the imagination to form original ideas. When thought of in this way, creativity starts to show up in just about every area of our life.

Creativity is, basically, problem solving

One way humans exercise creativity every day is through the act of problem solving. We run out of groceries and have to create a makeshift dinner from pantry items. A deadline at work gets moved up and we need to figure out how to get a project done faster. Problem solving is a form of creative expression. When we lean into this at work, we foster an environment of innovation, collaboration, and even joy.

5 Ways to Weave Creativity into Your Workday

Lead a Brainstorming Session
When a problem arises, try having a group brainstorming session. Clearly identify the problem, and encourage everyone in the meeting to share ideas. A 20 miniature period where ideas are only offered, not assessed. This is called “Divergent Thinking” and can build momentum, increase the number of ideas generated, and boost team morale.

Spotlight Team Accomplishments
Make an effort to highlight positive accomplishments of your team members and show gratitude for their efforts, whether that be public or private. Consider communicating with photos, gifs, and emojis. Research has found that visuals such as emojis make it easier for others to understand the tone of a message. This kind of recognition goes a long way to boost team member’s confidence and foster more creative thinking.

Spice up Repetitive Tasks
When it comes to tasks that are very repetitive, try making slight alterations to parts of the process to see if they might impact the pace or quality of the task. If the task has a well refined process that you wouldn’t want to change, think about what could potentially be added at the beginning or the end of the process to improve the outcome or make the repetitive process easier or more enjoyable to complete.

Present Data Creatively
When organizing data, think about different ways that the information contained in the data could be presented to get the right idea across. Incorporate charts, graphs, or images to present your data. Try playing with colors, shapes, sizes, and icons to make visuals of data more engaging and potentially easier to understand.

Quick Summary:

We are all naturally creative problem solvers. Our ability to problem solve with creativity is the reason people have managed to survive and adapt to their environment for all of human history. Try being open to new ideas while looking for solutions to problems that arise. With an open approach, you are far more likely to identify processes that streamline your work, as well as the work of your team, and potentially make your work a lot more enjoyable too.

On the Goga is a company on the mission to make the future of work more human. We connect employers and benefit consultants with the technology, content, and data they need to build happier, healthier teams. Learn more.

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