Contact us

[ return to list ]

Four Ways to Encourage Workplace Creativity

Don't follow conventional wisdom and assume that most creative ideas originate in the executive suites of a company or in the boardroom. That's not always true. In fact, it is often the workers “in the trenches” who provide the brainstorms that turn companies around. After all, their work is closely related to the products or the services that the company is providing—they may even use the product or service personally.

How can you encourage your workers to share their thoughts with everyone else? Here are four ways to keep new and profitable ideas flowing at a steady pace.

1. Acknowledge creativity. If someone comes up with a bright idea that will build sales or cut costs, let everyone else at the company know about it. You might put their names up on the bulletin board or in the company newsletter or select them to represent the company at industry get-togethers. In contrast, a sure-fire way to discourage new product or cost-cutting suggestions from employees is to let them think that their ideas have been stolen by someone else.

2. Reward creativity. Workers have to know that coming up with a creative idea will pay off for them personally. Rewards can, of course, come in all shapes and sizes. It can be as simple as giving an employee an extra day off or a bigger work area. However, depending on the type of company and the products and services it sells, the most effective rewards generally take the form of additional compensation (e.g., giving an employee company stock, a bonus or a raise).

3. Stimulate creativity. It helps to supply some sort of outlet for creative ideas and suggestions (and even for simply blowing off steam). The tried-and-true suggestion box may be the simplest way to get the ball rolling. Another possibility is to hold a casual once-a-week (or once-a-month) get together with employees at a local restaurant or some other hangout. Alternatively, you might put together group discussions or forums where employees can speak their minds about how the company product is manufactured, shipped, advertised and sold.

4. Train employees to be creative. It is a simple, but unfortunate, fact of life: many people simply do not have the self-confidence to step forward with good ideas. They believe that they have nothing to offer their employer other than the mechanical performance of the job that they have been hired to do. Frequently, educating workers is the best way to overcome this misconception and turn employees into a source of creative ideas. Some companies have hired professionals who specialize in this kind of creativity training, while others have been able to develop their own training programs from the ground up.

This can turn into a win–win situation: Your company is able to increase profits or cut costs while your employees receive extra benefits and take pride in their work. Try to get the most out of the people who actually know the most.

[ return to list ]




	[ return to list ] Four Ways to Encourage Workplace Creativity Don't follow conventional wisdom and assume that most creative ideas originate in the executive suites of a company or in the boardroom. That's not always true. In fact, it is often the workers “in the trenches” who provide the brainstorms that turn companies around. After all, their work is closely related to the products or the services that the company is providing—they may even use the product or service personally. How can you encourage your workers to share their thoughts with everyone else? Here are four ways to keep new and profitable ideas flowing at a steady pace. 1. Acknowledge creativity. If someone comes up with a bright idea that will build sales or cut costs, let everyone else at the company know about it. You might put their names up on the bulletin board or in the company newsletter or select them to represent the company at industry get-togethers. In contrast, a sure-fire way to discourage new product or cost-cutting suggestions from employees is to let them think that their ideas have been stolen by someone else. 2. Reward creativity. Workers have to know that coming up with a creative idea will pay off for them personally. Rewards can, of course, come in all shapes and sizes. It can be as simple as giving an employee an extra day off or a bigger work area. However, depending on the type of company and the products and services it sells, the most effective rewards generally take the form of additional compensation (e.g., giving an employee company stock, a bonus or a raise). 3. Stimulate creativity. It helps to supply some sort of outlet for creative ideas and suggestions (and even for simply blowing off steam). The tried-and-true suggestion box may be the simplest way to get the ball rolling. Another possibility is to hold a casual once-a-week (or once-a-month) get together with employees at a local restaurant or some other hangout. Alternatively, you might put together group discussions or forums where employees can speak their minds about how the company product is manufactured, shipped, advertised and sold. 4. Train employees to be creative. It is a simple, but unfortunate, fact of life: many people simply do not have the self-confidence to step forward with good ideas. They believe that they have nothing to offer their employer other than the mechanical performance of the job that they have been hired to do. Frequently, educating workers is the best way to overcome this misconception and turn employees into a source of creative ideas. Some companies have hired professionals who specialize in this kind of creativity training, while others have been able to develop their own training programs from the ground up. This can turn into a win–win situation: Your company is able to increase profits or cut costs while your employees receive extra benefits and take pride in their work. Try to get the most out of the people who actually know the most. [ return to list ]
2423-B Plantation Center Drive, Suite B, Matthews NC 28105 Fax:704-845-0928 © Copyright 2004 Desai & Desai, LLP