How can creativity help companies stay competitive?

Creativity is intrinsically linked to imagination, it is the ability to imagine what is not already there, and manifest those ideas into real life. Being creative is essentially like being an inventor, conjuring up strange items and solution that may to the naked eye seem sort of useless, but once they are applied correctly become an integral part of the organisation, product or solution. In the words of Albert Einstein "Creativity is seeing what others see and thinking what no one else ever thought."

First of all we need to demolish the myth. Creativity is not a talent. It is an acquired skill. It may be easier for some to be creative from the start, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us cannot be creative professionals. There are some simple tricks that can put us in a creative state of mind, like asking yourself “what if it was completely the opposite” or “if this was happening in a completely different universe, how would this be possible”. Simple questions like these just make us QUESTION the nature of everything and start thinking laterally. It also helps to keep a list of everything you admire for being creative and just asking yourself “why do I find this so incredibly creative”. If you just have to create the right state of mind.

Creativity is a cornerstone of competitive advantage for companies, driving innovation, adaptability, and differentiation. In the ever-evolving business landscape, creative thinking allows companies to develop new products, efficiently solve problems, and adapt to change. It enhances customer engagement through innovative marketing, attracts and retains top talent, and enables companies to stand out with a unique brand identity. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement and calculated risk-taking, creativity not only addresses current challenges but also positions companies to navigate future uncertainties and explore new opportunities.

I would add to the comment by Luiz that creative thinking is an attitude rather than a product of particularly talented people. A creative mindset involves the ability to explore lots of different avenues without getting stuck on the first option. I once read a description of creativity as the ability to shatter your established ideas (concepts, drafts) to pave the way for innovative thoughts and original concepts. Everyone can be creative and this will help their approach to their work, whatever their industry.

To grow our organizations in today’s world, time for creativity time is needed to flourish. Allowing time and space for creativity opens up doors for ideas that have the potential to be life changing, brings people together to improve and transform processes and makes a team stronger together.

I "ll start with that: I don't know the answer. All I can do is suggest some points: 1. Don't mistake creativity with innovation. They are connected, there is even dependency, but it is not the same thing. 2. Not all companies need innovation, and innovation is not needed (or even wanted) in all levels. 3. For creativity to become innovation one needs the courage to fail. Personally, on each step forward I believe I had ten failures. 4. Creativity is more common in places that looking foolish for times or saying stupid things does not mark the employee as a stupid person or a failure. 5. Having said that, creativity cannot be an excuse for stupidity or for just being annoying! Hmmmm, doesn't help much, does it?

I'm going to make it very easy for companies, or very difficult... Open spaces for creativity. If people individually and in teams are not given the space to explore, learn, iterate... think... creativity has no room to develop. Creativity and innovation workshops, that hire us to facilitate techniques and provide tools are good initiatives (wonderful, get in touch 😉!), but if at the end of our workshop we leave and there is no follow up creative spaces are closed... and there is no cultivation. I think it is important for companies to talk about building a culture of creativity, where the commitment to the development of individual and collective thinking skills is part of the company's vision for the future. And knowing that take action.

Creativity is the cornerstone to innovation, without it you are just a smoothly running machine, but with it you are an ever-evolving entity always in growth and seeking new exciting horizons to take on. In a sense you could also question why dreams are important, but we don't need to do that, since we all know that without a dream and a vision there would be no company in the first place. Furthermore I find that optimizations is an essential practice of any company constantly finding ways to improve in all aspects, in order to do so one need talented creatives that constantly generate new ideas to keep enhancing every single aspect of the organisation, and lastly but not least creativity fosters a fun and happy work environment.

Creativity is essential for any business. Keeping up to date with new trends and making your business stand out in front of the competition is key. Creativity can add the perfect touch to any marketing campaign!

Creativity holds immense importance for companies, serving as a catalyst for gaining a competitive edge and adapting to evolving customer needs. It is a key driver of innovation, fostering the development of new products, services, processes, and business models that keep organizations dynamic and responsive. In the face of challenges and uncertainties, creativity becomes a valuable resource, offering companies the ability to devise inventive solutions. It aids in problem-solving both internally and externally, enabling businesses to overcome obstacles and seize opportunities for growth.

Fostering creativity in your team is a lot about fostering positivity, instilling a sense of joy to the task at hand, and engaging with your co-workers through a curious an explorative mindset. I find that by getting to know each outside work, or at the lunchbreak builds confidence and trust in a team which allows them to be creative, one should remember that creativity is often fragile, if someone opens up their ideas to you, they are also opening-up a vulnerable part of themselves, so in order to do so there needs to be trust that they don't get ridiculed, criticized or receive a negative response if that happens their creativity will go back in its box and properly never see the daylight again.

Unique ideas and creative thoughts are always beneficial. How to spark that within a team can be done through different ways. Sometimes getting your team together to collaborate on future projects can inspire their creativity. It may seem childish but having craft sessions on random meetings can help spark and innovate new ways of thinking!

Pour stimuler la créativité au sein de votre équipe, encouragez un environnement ouvert à l'expression des idées, favorisez la diversité des perspectives et des compétences, encouragez la prise de risques calculés et accordez du temps pour l'exploration créative. Organisez des sessions de brainstorming, offrez des opportunités de formation et de développement, et récompensez l'innovation. Enfin, encouragez la collaboration et la communication fluide, car cela favorise un échange d'idées propice à la créativité collective.

É fundamental encorajar a diversidade de ideias e perspectivas, promover um ambiente inclusivo onde todos se sintam valorizados e capacitados a compartilhar suas sugestões. Estabelecer espaços para a colaboração, incentivar o pensamento fora da caixa e reconhecer e recompensar a inovação são práticas que estimulam a criatividade. Além disso, proporcionar oportunidades para a aprendizagem contínua e o desenvolvimento de habilidades criativas pode impulsionar a imaginação e a inovação dentro da equipe.

Creativity can be measured through simple outcomes. Some questions to ask in regards to keeping track of creative progression are as follows. Did the idea help make a task more efficient? Did the creative idea save on costs? Did the creativity cause more of an impact on the perception or satisfaction of the customer or stakeholder? What kind of impact did the idea create? Innovation may be difficult to measure in a short-term period but inspiration can happen slowly in daily meetings and being about the long term effects in new creative ideas!

Mesurer la créativité d'une équipe peut être délicat, mais plusieurs approches peuvent être utiles. Utilisez des métriques comme le nombre d'idées générées, la diversité des solutions proposées, ou la rapidité de résolution de problèmes. Organisez des sessions de rétroaction pour évaluer la contribution individuelle à la créativité collective. Encouragez le partage d'idées par le biais de plateformes ou de forums dédiés. Enfin, surveillez les résultats tangibles, tels que le nombre de projets innovants mis en œuvre. Une combinaison de ces indicateurs peut offrir une vision holistique de la créativité au sein de votre équipe.

Acredito que a criatividade na equipe pode ser medida através da observação de soluções inovadoras para desafios, da disposição para experimentar novas abordagens e do estímulo à expressão individual de ideias originais.

Reading books, watching movies and theater, visiting art galleries and listening to music in different genres has always helped me think outside the box and generate new ideas for the brands I work on.

Games that involve more than two people let us face upredictable and spontaneous situations which lead to stimulate our creativity. Art that can includes creating almost anything pushes us to find the best way to express a meaning. Meditation or any activity that helps our mind calm down, empty of daily polutions, and be free of contraction. Traveling to experience, see, hear, and feel new things, new people, and new ways of living and doing things.

There are so many ways to improve your creativity, I do often find that the most efficient one is discipline, practice and persistence. Sitting down each day for 20 minutes to write, to play a musical instrument, to read or whichever creative task you choose to engage will do wonders, however one needs to stay persistent else it will fade as quickly as it started, therefore it is important to improve in things that you find extremely interesting and fascinating that way when the going gets tough you will most likely fight through it since your love or appreciation for the task at hand is so powerful.

Absolutely, creativity is not a fixed trait but a skill that thrives on practice and effort. To enhance your creative abilities, challenge yourself by delving into new subjects and experimenting with varied approaches. Draw inspiration from diverse sources—people, places, events, or media—to broaden your perspective. Actively engage in experimentation through brainstorming, prototyping, testing, and iterating. This hands-on approach allows you to explore different ideas and solutions, fostering continuous growth and improvement. Reflection is equally crucial; regularly ask questions about your creative work and seek constructive feedback to refine your approach.

Improving your creativity takes action. Practice writing down ideas and keeping them in your desk or somewhere you can look back at easily! A great idea may take several ideas that are just ok for it to come into play and work. Practice can bring about new ideas and spark creativity. No idea is a bad idea! Innovation is a skill to learn when leading a team! But one piece of advice I would give to any manager or anyone for that matter, is to keep positive and give positive feedback versus negative. Discouragement can decrease anyone’s creative thinking. Don’t block the creative mindset with criticism but open it’s doors by complimenting areas in which a person shows strength. It will go a long way with sparking creativity within your team!