Here's how you can foster employee creativity and innovation with resources and tools.

Building trust fosters creativity. When employees feel secure and valued, they're more likely to take risks and think outside the box. Encourage open communication, recognize mistakes as stepping stones to success, and provide a safe space for sharing ideas. This creates an environment where innovation thrives. Ex. John, a software engineer, feels overwhelmed. His manager, Rachel, takes the time to discuss his concerns, offering guidance without being too prescriptive. She acknowledges his hard work and provides constructive feedback. Outcome: John feels heard, valued, and supported. He's more confident, taking calculated risks and thinking creatively. The trust-building actions create a safe environment.

Diversity drives innovation. A team of engineers, designers, and anthropologists can combine their expertise to create innovative solutions. Encourage collaboration between departments and promote cross-pollination of ideas. For example, a team of developers, marketers, and data analysts can develop a targeted advertising strategy that combines technical expertise, creative vision, and data-driven insights. By valuing different viewpoints and fostering inclusive dialogues, companies can unlock unique solutions that might not emerge in a more homogenous group.

When surrounded by creative and curious individuals, you'll often see them transform ordinary materials or ideas into extraordinary creations, much like Tony Stark did in the first Iron Man movie by crafting a suit from scraps. In reality, imaginative people require little more than the freedom to explore and be creative. While having a dedicated space, such as an office with a pool table and chalkboard, can be beneficial, creativity ultimately resides in the mind. A leader's primary task is to create a safe and supportive environment. A notable example of this is Shuji Nakamura, an engineer at RCA in the 1960s, self-funded his project to create the blue LED, which has had a significant impact on our daily lives despite RCA's opposition.

Designing flexibility and freedom into work environments encourages play and experimentation that translates into creative ideas and innovative solutions while making the process fun. Spaces that invite curiousity and discovery by incorporating all the 5 senses can lead to new insights and approaches to familiar challenges.

Räume für Kreativarbeit sollten Tageslicht haben und einen Blick nach draussen in die Natur erlauben. Gleichzeitig braucht es flexible Möbel, die sich an die Situation anpassen lassen (Tische mit verstellbarer Höhe, Sessel und Stühle, die einfach zu bewegen sind). Pflanzen haben eine positive Korrelation mit Kreativität und die richtige Farbgestaltung mit warmen Pastelltönen fördert Kreativität auch. Die passende Musik je nach kreativer Phase ist ein weiteres Merkmal für gute kreative Räume.

El sueño de querer soluciones disruptivas y de 10 millones de dólares, pero al mismo tiempo hacerlo rápido y sin errores... es eso, un sueño. Si queremos que los equipos encuentren buenas ideas y las implementen debemos brindarles: Tiempo y herramientas para analizar y entender el problema Tiempo y metodología para definir el reto de innovación Tiempo, inspiración y herramientas para explorar soluciones Tiempo y margen de error para implementar esas soluciones. Tiempo para aprender y hacerlo mejor (spoiler alert: sí, habrán errores y fracasos; lo importante es capitalizar ese aprendizaje).

Creativity thrives when unhurried. Allocate time for employees to explore new ideas. Implement 'innovation hours' or 'Innovation Days' where team members can work on passion projects outside regular tasks. This breaks routine and encourages innovation by allowing creativity to flourish in an open environment. By allowing exploration, you signal that creative contributions are valued

Boost your team's creative potential by investing in their skills. Offer workshops on design thinking, online courses on innovation, and access to conferences like SXSW and industry events like DesignThinkers. These opportunities help develop creative thinking and innovation skills, keeping your team's skills sharp and ideas fresh. For example, Google's 20% time policy allows employees to dedicate 20% of their work hours to side projects, fostering a culture of innovation and growth.

La tecnología bien implementada es una gran fuente de inspiración. Conocer los casos de uso y casos de éxito que existen al rededor de diferentes tecnologías, puede inspirar y detonar la creatividad en los equipos de trabajo. Soñar con cosas "imposibles" que en un futuro serán posibles. Además, la tecnología permite romper las barreras de las distancias y fomentar trabajo en equipo sin barreras de transporte y tiempos de traslados. Las herramientas tecnológicas son claves para entender qué está pasando y cómo podemos usarlas en las soluciones a nuestros retos de innovación.