Signs You May Be Limiting Employee Creativity

Creativity has its place in business. It can drive innovation, progress, and productivity in your employees which can help your business grow. Oftentimes, an environment that doesn’t encourage employees to be creative can lead to higher turnover or slower business growth. So how can you be sure that you’re fostering creativity in your workplace? Here are a few simple dos and don’ts.

Do mix things up.

While it can be tempting to put similar people on a team to brainstorm, when you’re trying to come up with something new, it’s more effective to combine people with different strengths and outlooks. This may create friction, but often that friction can spark a good idea.

Don’t play it safe.

Taking a risk in the workplace can be intimidating, but don’t be afraid to break new ground. If you’re frustrated with what you’ve come up with in the past, don’t reject ideas because they’re different from what you’ve been doing. Take a chance with something new.

Do give your employees time.

Creativity doesn’t happen in a vacuum. If you want to see results, you have to allocate company resources, particularly time. Also, keep in mind that creativity doesn’t happen at the same time for everyone. If possible, allow employees to come in early or stay late if it helps them get inspired.

Don’t micromanage.

Not only does micromanaging kill creativity by driving away talented employees, but it’s also a waste of your time. You can spend your hours much more effectively by walking away and trusting your employees to get the job done.

Do provide an incentive.

Consider giving your employees a little extra motivation to be creative. It doesn’t have to be money, although concrete rewards work well. You can also consider positive verbal feedback. Let your employees know what a good job they’ve done.

Don’t punish a risk taker.

If an idea falls flat in execution, don’t punish the person who was responsible for coming up with it. There’s no faster way to kill a flow of ideas than to set up an environment where failure is punished. Your employees want your business to succeed as much as you do. Cut your losses and move forward as a team.

Are you looking to hire more creative-minded professionals? Get in touch with a staffing specialist at Contemporary Staffing Solutions for help with shaping a more creative workplace.