Thinking Creatively
Strategies for Innovative Problem Solving at Work
Why Creativity Matters in the Workplace
Organizations often talk about the importance of creative thinking, but too often, the focus is still on efficiency and risk mitigation. This contradiction can make it difficult to embrace truly innovative thinking. Creativity isn’t just about generating new ideas. It’s also about seeing existing problems from a different angle, overcoming roadblocks, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
When you make space for creative thinking, you invite new opportunities for growth and improvement, both for your business and for your personal development. Creativity fosters resilience, flexibility, and a mindset that’s open to exploration. Even in the most structured environments, there are easy ways to nurture this invaluable skill.
Unconventional Tips to Ignite Creativity
Ready to shake things up? Here are some unconventional strategies to bring creative thinking into your daily workflow.
Try a “Bad Ideas” Session
One way to unlock creativity is to explore the exact opposite of what’s expected and encourage bad ideas. When you deliberately aim to generate the worst possible solutions, it can lower the stakes and create a fun, pressure-free environment. You might be surprised at how often “bad” ideas spark brilliant, unexpected insights. The goal is to release the fear of failure and make space for unconventional possibilities.
Try This: Schedule a 15-minute session with your team. Everyone shares the most impractical, ridiculous solutions they can think of. Write them down and then revisit them to see if there’s a hidden gem worth exploring further.
Disrupt Your Daily Routine
Sometimes, our best ideas emerge when we change our surroundings or alter our daily rhythm. Even minor tweaks like working in a new environment, taking a different route to work, or switching up your lunch routine can reignite your creativity. These small disruptions to your routine can prompt your brain to think differently and make new connections.
Try This: The next time you’re working through a challenging problem, take your team outside, grab a coffee, or use an unfamiliar space. My go-to is going for a walk, but no matter what you try be sure to notice how the change in atmosphere affects your energy and thinking.
Practice “What If” Scenarios
Ask “What if?” questions to stretch your thinking and explore possibilities beyond the obvious. Start by taking a current problem or situation and posing radical “What if?” questions:
What if budget wasn’t a constraint?
What if you had to solve this problem in 24 hours?
What if you had to remove a core feature?
Take Action Challenge
Today’s challenge: Set aside 15 minutes for a quick “bad ideas” session.
Choose a problem or project you’re working on and intentionally come up with five terrible solutions. Don’t overthink it, just go for the most outlandish ideas you can imagine.
Then, reflect… Did any of these ideas have a kernel of brilliance? Could parts of a “bad” idea be adapted into something usable?
You might be surprised at the creative breakthroughs that come from simply giving yourself permission to play.