Developed
by Participants of Management Discussion Groups
How to Get More
Creative Thinking from your Team
Discovery consists of
looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking something
different. When we need to “think something different,” we succeed
in an environment where creativity is encouraged and recognized.
- Create a relaxed environment that
encourages fun. Ask your staff for input. This could mean a meeting
in the park once a month or in a coffee shop.
- Honor the needs of different work
styles. “Big idea” thinkers might like to have a flipchart in
the office and bright colored markers to visualize thinking on
paper.
- Be flexible. When assigning a task,
challenge your team to identify “right answers,” not “the
right answer.”
- Accept, respect, and recognize all
the answers as potential solutions. Give feedback on all ideas, even
those not used.
- Encourage risk-taking, try new
things, reflect on and learn from the experiences.
- Create a safe environment where
creativity is supported and even flaunted.
- Set parameters. Studies reveal that
creativity is helped not hindered by establishing certain parameters
within which to work. This ensures greater focus not fewer ideas.
(Note: Avoid setting parameters that may be confining.)
- Encourage collaboration.
Brainstorming and mind mapping sessions help to grow an idea. Share
creative solutions within and among units and departments.
- Take a discussion topic out of
context and assign small groups to work with it.
A.
Create a metaphor around it (How is the procedure like planting a
garden?).
B. Be a revolutionary (How would you hinder the process?)
C. Play role-reversal (If you were in charge, what would you do?)
-
Come up with funky
ways to endorse creative thinking: The-best-idea-that-didn’t-work
award. Leave crayons and flipcharts in a break room and encourage
people to document the ideas that come up during their informal
chats.
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