The word creativity is spoken in every field and forum being the biggest competitive advantage a business or an employee can have.
From a business perspective, creativity is certainly a competitive advantage if creativity creates commercial value at the end. So it’s all about creating ideas that are marketable at a profit or to increase profits and value of an existing offer to a customer.
Creativity means more than developing new and useful “things.” It also entails new and useful ways of thinking, behaving, marrying action with invention to creatively engage with change across the entire value chain. Creativity serves many purposes. It not only combats stagnation but facilitates growth, innovation through which value creation.
Creativity is correlated with change – looking for something unknown and unseen and totally different. Searching for, finding, nurturing, graduating and commercialising creativity is about; rule bending, law breaking, aggression, challenging, Creative people often direct their nurturing energy towards ideas rather than relationships, and may be viewed as aloof, arrogant, competitive, hostile, independent or unfriendly.
Right questions
Nurturing a creatively competitive organisation requires curiosity above all else. Asking the right questions is more important and more difficult than having the right answers. While leading for creativity is just the first of many new practices required of creatively competitive organisations, it is the one on which all others depend. Nothing is sure to shut down the engine of innovation faster than leaders who behave as if creating and executing on new ideas is just another item on their efficiency oriented checklists.
Yes, creativity and innovation provide a competitive advantage, enabling organisations to adapt to changing market dynamics, differentiate themselves from competitors, and explore untapped markets. They are the catalysts for the development of revolutionary products, services, and strategic partnerships that drive growth and success. A creative thinker creates, develops, and solves problems that require intellectual effort and strong thinking power. However, with the help of an electronic device that can fix everything for us, we no longer need to motivate ourselves for intellectual challenges.
Technology distraction
Today, technology plays a role in our daily lives that almost everything has an application that may have negative consequences. Some apps require minimal effort to draw, paint and even write. Many accessible platforms can even generate music with the touch of a button, and many of them even promote lazy communication. Therefore, instead of creating or learning something on our own, we install an application to do it for us. Technology is often a time-distracting factor for creativity, which is a strong argument against it. Is technology killing creativity? The answer to this question is debatable. Technology can be both good and wrong when it comes to creativity. While it can be a source of inspiration and innovative solutions, it can also be a waste of time on unnecessary applications.
The way we use it depends on each of us, but the constant desire to develop our creativity will produce authentic ideas that enrich our lives.The ability of people to think creatively seems like it is being blocked by many technological distractions that hide behind the corners of life. The endless scrolling on social media, for instance, is taking all of our time and attention, leaving no space for developing our creative impulses and creative ability. It isn’t actually necessary for everyone to be creative for the benefits of creativity to be felt by all. We can reap the rewards of the creative person’s ideas by copying them, buying from them or simply admiring them. Few of us can build a computer or write a symphony, but they are ours to use and enjoy nevertheless.
Creative leadership
To inspire creativity, leaders should encourage healthy conflict and debate. Instead of micromanaging, empower others and give them the reins to explore and take risks. A genuine team-based environment, in which connections are forged through collaboration and social time, is essential for innovative teamwork.
Leaders will notice a remarkable difference when the effort is made to “de-silo” the organisation. Instead of staying separate and heads-down on only their own projects, employees have the opportunity to interact with other colleagues in different departments and gain an informed understanding of the company as a whole.
This will spark creativity and allow for ideas and inspiration to flow freely across departments. Encourage employees to get in the habit of self-reflection check-ins. This exercise helps them to focus on what they have achieved, as well as what’s coming up next, and helps inspire them to see things differently.
Cultivate an office culture that rewards creative risk-taking. One reason why employees are not thinking out of the box or proposing different solutions could be due to a fear of making mistakes and not having their ideas supported.
As much as possible, make it clear to your employees that your organisation values creativity — and understands its importance. This can be clearly communicated by being receptive to new ideas and recognising risk-takers for the impact they’ve made.Generally, creativity in the workplace won’t have a one-size-fits-all approach.
What’s appropriate and works for your organisation will depend on the industry, culture, size, demographics and many factors. The above methods of supporting creativity in the workplace can be a great way to start for most organisations.
