All work and no play not only makes Jack a dull boy, it also increases the likelihood of dull minds, stifled yawns, and general disengagement in your workplace. Translate this principle into dollars and sense and you get a big fat zero.
Follow these tips to help inspire more creativity in your team and you’ll soon see your productivity and your profits rise. As a bonus, you’ll get the “most inspiring leader ever” award.
1. Celebrate failures. Let’s face it — creativity is risky business. As long as a creative idea is well thought through and executed, celebrate it. Even if it fails. James Berry, an entrepreneur and management professor at University College London, agrees. In an interview for Entrepreneur Magazine, he states that rewarding failed creativity attempts, “sends a message to employees that you’re rewarding the mindset and the willingness to try to improve.”
2. Applaud role models. Yes, it’s true that behind every good man is a good woman but it’s also true that behind every creative person is another creative person. Encourage your team members to follow their role models — read their books, attend their seminars and follow their blogs.
3. Give the big picture. A good challenge spurs creative thinking and helping each team member figure out their piece in a giant puzzle is a challenge most employees appreciate. Help each team member understand the context for each of his or her projects and you’ll be amazed at how far they can go.
4. Redecorate. Companies that rely heavily on creative individuals — think Pixar, Apple and Google, often let their employees design their own workspaces in a way that inspires them the most. No matter your budget, there are certain tricks of the trade you can make work for becoming the inspiring leader. Encourage clutter-free workspaces, experiment with lighting (the less fluorescent, the better) and choose bold fresh colors with aesthetic appeal.
5. Delegate and trust. Don’t save all the “big” projects for yourself or for a select few. Regularly delegate important projects to everyone on the team and then trust the appointed individual to do a great job. Confidence is key to inspired creativity.
6. Give feedback. A team member without feedback may grow discouraged from the feeling of “shooting in the dark” and may eventually not want to try at all. Make it a practice to give regular feedback to your team members — on both small and large projects.