Dear Readers

Have you ever stopped to consider how many creative ideas you have in a single day?  I was preparing for a presentation on creative thinking, when I stopped to ponder this notion.  I decided to do some surreptitious investigating around the office to determine whether the creative juices were flowing, so to speak. 

At the first meeting of the day, we were trying to get our heads around a particularly irritating and re-occurring issue.  “Any bright ideas?” I asked optimistically.  Everyone looked down at their writing pads, fiddled with their cellphones or picked imaginary lint off their clothes. Nothing.  Hhmm, not a good omen on the creativity front! 

Over the course of the day, I eavesdropped on office conversations, eagerly read emails and blatantly asked for ideas on any and every business topic I could think of.  And there were one or two ideas (maybe) that could be tweaked, twisted, re-invented or manipulated into some sort of solution to work issues.

Why do employees hit a mental block when it comes to creativity at work?

On that same day, though, I noticed that when we spoke about any “non-business” issues, my employees let forth a bountiful stream of ideas (that made perfect sense) to solve a myriad of issues  related to marriage, politics, children, relationships, families, the home, chores and even the economy!  That got me thinking…… how come people can spew forth decent, creative ideas about aspects outside of the workplace but encounter a mental desert when called on to be creative at work?

You must recognise which method suits your specific situation the best

Determined to unleash the sluice gates to the veritable dam of business-related ideas that I was sure was welling up in my employees, I thought about the best way to harness creativity at work.  I’ve read the literature – and had enough practice – to recognise that there’s no one way to ensure you tap into the creative potential that exists at your workplace.  A lot of the skill involved in maximising creative potential comes from being able to recognise which method best suits the specific business need in your specific business environment.

In a nutshell, how you do it (unlocking creativity), depends on why you need to do it (the business issue that needs to be resolved) and where it will take place (the environment).

So I considered my options based on the above criteria and from among the literally hundreds of creative methods, I shortlisted the following:

1. Brainstorming
2. Focus Group
3. SWOT Analysis
4. The “DO IT” approach 

• Define the problem
• Open mind and apply creative techniques
• Identify best solution
• Transform

Don’t forget these options – and more - are covered in detail in the Practical Guide to Human Resources Management, so grab your copy for the step-by-step guidance you need to implement them properly. Click here if you’re not a subscriber...and find out how you can get the most from your employees.

I organised an unashamed "free-for-all"

I’m a fan of brainstorming (if it’s facilitated properly), so I decided to take my brightest and best minds off-site to a more relaxed environment for an idea-generating day.  No holds barred.  An unashamed “free-for-all”.  I organised bean-bags instead of chairs, clipboards instead of desks, chocolates and sweets instead of boring peppermints and a bottomless supply of fizzy drinks and fruit juice. 

As the designated-facilitator (and therefore steamboat captain), I stuck to coffee - and the agenda - and steered my boisterous team through a somewhat meandering morning session while the atmosphere, environment and sugar seeped into their minds and thoughts and the creative wheel started to turn.  By late morning, the first trickle of value began to eke through.  Between loud bouts of giggles, laughter and wild gesticulating, I noticed that more and more promising ideas were filling up the flipchart pages.  Instead of the usual “graveyard shift” after the lunch break, my team were raring to go and had a veritable waterfall of ideas!

I loved the results!

By the end of the session we had more than a dozen practical, useable ideas to work on to enhance not only our business operations but also the way that we do what we do…. Seems that the team absolutely loved being able to leave the formal, professional consulting environment for a day to kick back and let their hair down.  And I loved the results!

They are begging me to do it at least twice a year but I’m not sure that regularity would be good for spontaneity.  But I do like the idea of changing the way we work on a daily basis … although I do have to put the boardroom table and chairs back and turf out the beanbags - too many people are falling asleep during meetings!

Until next time...
Warm regards

Janine Nieuwoudt
Editor-in-Chief
The Practical Guide to Human Resources Management

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