Creativity and the Workplace

The first thing that comes into most managers minds when they hear the words “creativity” and “workplace” combined is either a) someone is cooking the books (as in creative accountancy) or people are just goofing off.
The reality is something far different
It has been shown that workplaces where creativity is not just tolerated, but encouraged, have not just a more profitable bottom line, but their staff are happier, lower staff turnover, increased business flexibility, reduced leave of absence – in essence those things that a truly motivated and forward thinking business wants and needs to thrive. These are places where discussion is encouraged, boundaries are challenged and everyone is constantly striving to improve those things that impact not just their sphere of influence but the company as a whole.  It is a place where these practices are not just given lip service, but they are truly a part of the company’s overall business plan, its ethics and its moral code.

So how do we encourage creativity in the workplace?

A good place to start is to consciously open the lines of communication in all directions, between individual staff, between managers and their staff, and most importantly between the various departments.  More money is lost from “misunderstandings” between departments than most companies would like to admit.  This communication does not have to be formal. It could be something as simple as encouraging conversation over a coffee, at the water cooler, around someone’s desk or in some other less structured atmosphere. Remember creativity cannot be forced, it has to bubble up out of the unconscious for most people, and often a chin wag over the new widget we are making can turn out to be a major coat saver in the long run.
We are not advocating a completely laissez-faire workplace, but that keeping people in their place, tied to a desk or kept in a box generally does not encourage the flights of fancy from which great ideas come.
During my 20 years of employment in a range of companies, I have seen evidence of these cost savings many times in workplace situations, let me explain……..

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As I sit here in my office at 5.30am I know that winter is on its way, why? because I have had to find a cardigan and dust off the control to turn on the heater and I don’t think I will be eating my breakfast outside this morning BURR!! They are advertising a quick getaway to grab one last burst of sun in the Whitsundays, very tempting!

I happened to catch an interesting conversation on Sunrise  about the best places to work which got me thinking about all the places I have previously worked and it’s funny, when you think of your workplace in that context, what thoughts do you conjure?  It took me back in time and I was flooded with some wonderful memories, mainly people that I haven’t thought about in ages.  On a personal note I have loved every place that I have ever worked (what I can remember), although there were times or things I did that I didn’t particularly like, but overall I have no complaints.

I firmly believe that you choose and create your own working environment.  Most businesses today are doing what they can to provide their employees with an environment that is safe, bright, happy, friendly and fun.  You only have to look at Google to see how this can work.  If you want to view a working environment that provides everything an employee could ever imagine check this out  and see how the other half works.

But seriously, what is it that makes YOU want to go to work?  Find out more…….

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