Workplace Creativity? Why Not? #CreativityTips #HowToBeCreative #BreakingMonotony #InnovationAtWork

#Creativity is the mother of all new ideas and innovation. It is that bright spark that leads to development of revolutionary techniques and path-breaking inventions. 

Creativity at the workplace (#WorkplaceCreativity) is something that's not usually common, barring some specific jobs that require constant innovation and creativity like advertising, marketing, brand promotion, research and development, copy-writing etc. 

Most routine jobs allow little scope of creativity or innovation. As a result, we get used to doing things a routine way. Whatever creative ideas we may have at the beginning of our career/job get buried under the push and pull of routine work. Our creative urges slowly die out from not being used. As a famous quote goes, “I believe this passionately: that we don't grow into creativity, we grow out of it. Or rather, we get educated out if it.”

Now, the question is if you have become used to following orders and follow set patterns of thinking, how will you think creatively? And more importantly, how will you generate ideas? And does your workplace provide the conducive atmosphere for inspiring big ideas?

Let's Be Creative....

å       How to get started: 

o Search for Inspiration: Walk around, talk to people involved in the situation or handling the problem to identify needs and solution specific to the problem. This will challenge your assumptions, give you a clear picture, and put you on the right track.

o   Write down stray bits of information and insights from a particular problem. Later you can organize and categorize these to form a rough idea.

• “Problems are hidden opportunities, and constraints can actually boost creativity.”

å       Tools for creativity:

o   Attribute Listing: Here you break down a problem into smaller bits and see what you discover. The first step is to list attributes, as many as you can, of a particular object, for example, a toothbrush. The second step is to consider both positive and negative values of each attribute of the object, for example, angles, bristles, shape of the toothbrush. Finally you seek to modify the attributes in some way, like changing the negative attributes. This technique is helpful in design of new models.

o   Bio-mimicry: This is a technique where you copy nature’s ideas and designs to solve human problems. Here nature is treated as a solution provider. This technique can be used in solving engineering problems, the logic being that biological organisms and their organs have evolved over years, and are therefore dependable.

o  Classical Brainstorming: This is a group technique. You and some four other coworkers sit down and ideate on an issue. Write down the problem on a flip-chart or board and make sure everyone understands the problem. Ask each member to put forth their ideas, the more the better. A facilitator writes down the ideas. There is no censure or evaluation of ideas, just generation. After the ideas have been written down, seek a consensus on what ideas can be considered further.

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.

Seek out opportunities to brainstorm, explore the limits of the situation, ask trick questions, play devil’s advocate, and generate new ideas

o      Assess and evaluate these ideas through checklists and idea dissection

å       Breaking the creativity blocks:

o   Keep a notebook of ideas and insights: Write down random thoughts and insights as and when they occur to you. These will become the raw material on which to build further ideas.

  

o  Exercise: A brisk run or a round of tennis or swimming is a great way to boost creativity. In fact, walking around the workplace also can generate new ideas and brainwaves!

o     Take a short break: Your subconscious mind throws up great associations and images in the semi-waking state. Indulge in a session of shut-eye sitting in your desk, and time your nap to not more than ten to fifteen minutes.