What are some things you might do to create a creative work environment?
Fostering a creative environment can be a challenge for some companies and organizations. That’s particularly the case when there’s a determined bottom-line that hangs over the heads of employees as they attempt to plan their days and execute essential projects. The question then becomes, ‘What are some things you can do to invite innovation and creativity into one’s company culture?”
There are several ways that companies sculpt and cultivate a creative and thriving company culture. Often, companies consider budget, environment, behavior and a location when grooming a company for creative success. At the same time, they understand these varied circumstances don’t change the fact businesses need creatives, and creatives are often a chief ingredient when designing a team that’s talented a promising, and ultimately able to push a company light years ahead.
While some businesses create an inspired workplace, fixed with showers and kitchens, to a creative culture for employees, others choose grant flexible work hours to employees. Read on to learn some of the other things that business attempt to establish an imaginative workplace.
- Unlimited Vacations: Sounds too good to be true? Some companies offer teams unlimited vacation days, helping employees know that companies care about the mental health and the personal wellbeing and work-life balance.
- Address Team Needs First: Virgin Group’s Richard Branson and Zappos’ Tony Hsieh are examples of CEOs who’ve reframed the thinking around “customers come first.” Instead, they take the needs of employees and team members seriously, putting their concerns ahead of customers and stakeholders.
- Take Risks: Risk-averse teams don’t have as much fun or success as organizations choosing to use creativity to break tradition and bend the rules. Risk can be the gateway to cool disruptive ideas and exciting discoveries.
- Encourage Debate: There’s little point in having a team who agree on everything all of the time. That would be boring, and wouldn’t be a great way to thrive. Instead, encourage work-friendly discourse among a diverse team of professionals.
- Problem Solve As A Team: Rather than going at it alone, use that excellent group energy to support each other and work toward a solution. Observing the skills and perspectives of different team members can spark a breakthrough.
- Inspire and Motivate: Executing larger projects, and smaller ones can be rewarding employees with responsibility. If employees feel respected and acknowledged, they’ll do a better job.
- Outside-the-Box: Invite innovative thinking into the group, and encourage invention, conversation, and imagination. If you must, transform your office into something inviting, artistic, and attractive. Watch other companies with creative reputations, such as Google and Apple, and take notes.
Would you open up the floorplan to create better flow and introduce an uninhibited workspace? Would you develop team-building exercises? Would you make an effort to understand the needs of employees? Are there other ways that you might encourage a creative working environment?