In the competitive business world creativity is one of the top three things that a business needs in order to succeed.
If you are lacking in creativity then you are going to struggle to come up with products and services that will keep your customers coming back to you time and time again.
Without that creative spark you are also going to struggle to market your products to the general public which is a vital floor in any business plan.
There are many ways in which you can try to increase the creativity in your work place but first you have to realise that it is lacking.
Sometimes it can be hard to tell when you’re on the inside and before you realise it the business has taken a turn for the worse and it’s too late to adopt any changes.
So here are some things to look out for.
The Office Has Lost Its Buzz –
Contrary to what some bosses seem to believe; working in silence is not how creativity is bred. There is a fine line between product chatter and socialising on work time but it is import to give your staff free reign to discuss things. An idea starts as a spark of innovation and can only be developed by being bounced around between different people, and so if you have created an environment that restricts this then the creativity of the company could suffer. If the office has lost its buzz then it’s likely to also be void of ideas and imagination.
Your Competitors Have All The ‘Must Have’ Products –
In order to bring in increased profit a business relies on its ability to produce ‘must have’ products that their consumers just have to have in their lives. Whatever industry you are in there are always leading products which drive sales and create excitement amongst the general public; in the technology industry this is arguably the IPhone, in the entertainment industry the latest ‘must have’ thing is 3D and in fashion things are always changing depending on the season.
If your business doesn’t have one of these products then it is already a cause for concern but if your competitors are always outdoing you in this area then it’s a lot worse. Creativity and innovation is what drives the creation of these products and so without it you will struggle to establish that one thing that draws consumers to your brand in particular.
There’s A High Staff Turnover –
In some industries a high staff turnover is common due to the nature of the business but in most this is often a bad sign. If people are leaving your company on a regular basis then it is going to be difficult for your team to build up a rapport with each other and therefore let their creative juices flow. Every time someone new comes into a business the dynamics can change a little bit and things can start to stutter. Creativity is temperamental at times and constant staff changes can really affect it.
You also have to ask yourself why your staff are constantly leaving. It could mean that there is a bad atmosphere in the office or that they aren’t being given the motivation or space that they need in order to be creative.
Brainstorming Sessions Are Fruitless –
One of the many ways that businesses try to be more creative is to hold regular brainstorming session in which employees can put forward any ideas and discuss the pro and cons of these. However, if you are coming out of these sessions as idealess as you were going in then it’s an obvious sign that something is wrong.
It’s a good idea to think about the timing of these brainstorms because this can be key to them bearing creative fruit. First thing in the morning is not a great time as people are still waking up and near the end of the day will just have people clock watching. It’s best to hold them around mid-morning to catch people at during their most insightful moments.
If some of the things in this article have made you wonder whether your business could do with a shot of creativity then it’s best to act quickly before things get worse. Creative thinking for business is something that can be taught if people don’t have it inherently. Why not look into creative thinking training courses that could set the ball rolling and turn things around for your company?
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Chris Mayhew has a degree in creative writing and knows how important innovation is within the business world. He would encourage anyone who thinks their working environment is lacking in creativity to take a course with Now Go Create.