5 WAYS TO FOSTER CREATIVE LEADERSHIP IN YOURSELF AND YOUR ORGANIZATION

By taking small intentional steps toward creativity everyday, individuals can create big change in their personal effectiveness, and within their organization. Leaning into creativity allows us to free ourselves, to think new, and to work through both small and large challenges. Here are five ways you can foster creativity in your daily processes and within your own team.

5 4 3 2 1

A creative mind is an open mind. Build your creative, mental muscle through games and strategies. Use the phrase, "I am trying something new" and then do it. Creative-thinking methods lead to new perspectives, so don’t let your preexisting beliefs block the flow of ideas.

Read content from diverse authors, ask questions, and seek to find answers. Constantly consuming content to fuel your creative pursuits will keep your mind fresh and active. Like an athlete in the off-season, putting in consistent work will prepare you for future opportunities.

Reach out to people different from you for their insight. It may see daunting, but undoubtedly, the results will be richer, more robust, and more unique. As our CEO, Carol Rickard emphasises, "our differences make us stronger than our similarities ever could".

The “yes, and” approach encourages agreement. People build off one another's ideas, as they resist the urge to shut down any idea at the start. It removes “no” from the table to ensure all ideas are heard. This method can be done in a fun exercise among teammates. Try it! You will be surprised at the positive outcomes.

Enjoy the journey. People are often intimidated or scared of their own creativity. In my experience, most people do not readily identify as creative and believe their ideas are not creative enough to share. Squash the fear and challenge this mindset by embracing your unique talents and perspectives. Many times the most creative ideas are the simplest ones.

Creativity is a vital ingredient for success in the modern business landscape. It fuels innovation, enables adaptation, differentiates brands, enhances problem-solving, and drives customer empathy. By prioritizing creativity, organizations can navigate the complexities of today’s business environment and seize new opportunities for growth and success as they go into their optimistic futures.

Creativity fuels the generation of fresh thinking and groundbreaking ideas. It encourages employees to use their imaginations, challenge conventional wisdom, and develop visionary solutions to complex issues.

ENCOURAGES INNOVATION

Creativity is the foundation of innovation. Creativity is a mechanism by which we innovate, providing the spark that ignites the innovation process. Without creative thinking, it is challenging to identify new opportunities, develop unique products or services, or improve processes.

FOSTERS OPPENNESS TO CHANGE STIMULATES PROBLEM SOLVING ENGAGES EMPLOYEES

Adapting to change is a requirement in today's fast-paced, dynamic business landscape. Organization response to changing market conditions, customer preference, and technology advancements can be immediate.

ESTABLISHES DIFFERENTIATORS

Creative problem solving allows organizations to focus on the horizon, looking ahead of the curve to new possibilities and opportunities.

PROMOTES DIVERSITY

7 TANGIBLE WAYS CREATIVITY CAN IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Encourage your employees to share ideas via open dialogue, surveys, and committees. They will become more vested in the organization's growth and feel valued and motivated.

EMBRACES CUSTOMER EMPATHY

Creativity helps businesses stand out from the competition and offer memorable experiences to customers. By infusing creativity into their processes, products, services, spaces, and overall brand identity, companies can create a distinct and compelling brand image that resonates with customers.

Creating diverse teams and seeking diverse perspectives enrich business. Seeing situations from different viewpoints enables everyone to have a broader view to challenges and opportunities. Broader perspective helps develop more creative solutions and a robust workforce.

Walking a mile in someone else's shoes is one of the best ways to creatively embrace customer empathy. This helps understand and meet their needs in unique and unexpected ways. By creatively exploring customers’ insights, preferences, and pain points, organizations can develop innovative products, services, and experiences that resonate with their target audiences, leading to increased customer loyalty and satisfaction.

Goals

1. Craft a transformative space that showcases our design process

2. Create spaces that support individual work and face-to-face collaboration

3. Be an epicenter in the community by providing a safe, inviting environment

4. Advocate for sustainability and employee wellness

Solution

A seamless blend of individual work, collaboration and technology while emphasizing cultural connections

It’s not often we get to play the role of both client and designer, but when Little’s Orlando office needed more space, our design team welcomed the opportunity to transform the 8th floor of a 1980s office building into a workplace that champions health, sustainability, and community.

The design is organized around Health, Energy, Water, and Social Equity, guiding principles to Little’s Sustainability philosophy. The open office incorporates sit/stand desks to encourage movement, an abundance of natural light, and branded graphics that reinforce Little’s values and local ties. At the heart of the space is a large, flexible collaboration area that offers the perfect spot for lunchtime gatherings, private meetings or after-hour community events.