Creativity

Creativity Is A Defining Core Value

This series on core values is based on the premise that both individually and as organizations, we must decide what we are going to stand for and then be intentional about it. Your core values are your north star, your road map and your guard rails as you build a life and a business. 

Why make “Creativity” a core value?  Creativity can lead to innovative ideas, solutions, and products, which can give you a competitive advantage in the market.

• Innovation: Creativity is the engine of innovation. By encouraging creative thinking and problem-solving, companies can develop new products, services, and processes that differentiate them from competitors. This fosters a culture of continuous improvement and keeps the company at the forefront of their industry.

• Adaptability: In today's rapidly changing business landscape, companies need to be adaptable. Creative employees can quickly adapt to new challenges and find unique ways to overcome obstacles, making the organization more resilient to external disruptions.

• Problem-Solving: Creativity enables you to approach problems from multiple perspectives, leading to more diverse and effective solutions. Creative thinkers can find innovative ways to tackle complex issues and find opportunities that others may overlook.

• Brand Differentiation: Companies that embrace creativity often develop a distinct brand identity. Consumers are attracted to unique and imaginative products or services, making it easier for the company to stand out and build a loyal customer base.

• Customer-First Approach: Creative thinking can lead to the development of products and services that better meet customers' needs and preferences. By understanding your customers better, you can enhance their offerings and improve customer satisfaction.

Apple, Google, 3M, Pixar and Adobe are four examples of big companies built on an intentional core value of Creativity. It is ingrained into their company culture and is reflected in the innovative products and services. At Google, engineers have “20% time” where they can spend one-fifth of their workweek on projects of their choosing. A similar policy at 3M led to the creation of the Post-It Note. 

Being more creative is a skill that can be developed and nurtured. Don’t believe that inner voice that tries to convince you that you are not creative. You are! You just need to work on rebuilding your creative muscles. Here are some strategies:

• Embrace a Growth Mindset: Believe that creativity is not fixed, but something that can be cultivated over time. Embrace challenges and see failures as opportunities for learning and growth.

• Create a Supportive Environment: In organizations, foster a culture that values and rewards creativity. Encourage open communication, idea-sharing, and risk-taking. Provide your associates with the time, resources, and autonomy to explore new ideas.

• Diversify Knowledge and Experiences: Expand your knowledge across various fields and industries. Engage in activities outside your usual comfort zone to gain diverse perspectives, which can lead to fresh and innovative connections between ideas.

• Engage in Brainstorming: Encourage brainstorming sessions where individuals can freely share ideas without judgment. Group brainstorming can lead to synergy and the generation of novel concepts.

• Practice Mindfulness and Reflection: Give yourself or your team time for reflection and introspection. Sometimes, stepping back from a problem or project allows for creative insights and solutions to emerge.

• Seek Inspiration: Surround yourself with inspiration from various sources, such as art, nature, literature, or innovative companies. Exposing yourself to new stimuli can spark creativity.

• Challenge Assumptions: Question assumptions and conventional wisdom. Often, breakthroughs come from challenging established norms and thinking outside the box.

• Embrace Constraints: Constraints can force you to think creatively within limitations. Embracing constraints can lead to innovative solutions and designs.

• Allow Time for Incubation: Sometimes, stepping away from a problem and returning to it later allows the brain to make subconscious connections, leading to new insights and ideas.

• Use Creative Techniques: Utilize creative thinking techniques like mind mapping, analogies, role-playing, or SCAMPER (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Reverse) to explore new possibilities.

• Support Learning and Training: Offer workshops, training, and courses on creativity and innovation to empower individuals to enhance their creative abilities.

• Encourage Feedback and Iteration: Embrace feedback, both positive and constructive, as it helps refine and evolve creative ideas. Encourage the iteration process to continuously improve concepts.

• Reward and Recognize Creativity: In organizations, acknowledge and reward creative contributions to reinforce the importance of creativity in the company's culture.

Remember that creativity is a process, and not every idea will be groundbreaking. Creativity is a skill, it must be developed and nurtured. Embrace experimentation and view failures as stepping stones toward creative breakthroughs. By incorporating these strategies into your personal or organizational approach, you can foster a more creative and innovative environment.

Put it out there! Be more than a product source. Think about the problems you can solve. Think about the pain points of your customers and how you can be their aspirin. Tell them, tell your associates and tell yourself - I am creative! Creativity is one of my Core Values!