Many of us feel that we aren\u2019t innovative or creative. That we don\u2019t tap into that part of our brain enough and that creative work is reserved for artists, musicians or advertisers. The reality is that we are all creative and we can bring innovative thinking to our roles every day.<\/p>\n
In a recent session I delivered to new hire employees in IT and Finance at a bank, we discussed how to leverage innovative thinking in their front line roles.\u00a0 The questions came up: \u201cAren\u2019t we just supposed to do our job the way our manager wants us to?\u201d\u00a0 The obvious answer is \u2018of course\u2019.\u00a0 All employees need to meet (and hopefully exceed) their manager\u2019s expectations. But the reality is the managers in the room expressed that they wanted the new professionals to bring innovative thinking to projects they are working on.\u00a0 They expect creativity and fresh ideas. They welcome new thoughts on how to problem solve.<\/p>\n
Regardless of what stage you are in your career, you can bring innovation to what you do and how you do it.\u00a0 Young employees bring fresh ideas and aren\u2019t steeped in the status quo.\u00a0 Experienced employees bring industry knowledge and big picture thinking to be able to see challenges from different points of view.\u00a0 Being innovative doesn\u2019t mean you need to build a new app or create a new product or start a new company.\u00a0 It means that you bring a new thought or different perspective \/ approach to your work. \u00a0You can do this is in any work situation from the front line to senior leadership roles. The key is not get stuck in doing the same things over and over and to make innovation part of how you approach your work.<\/p>\n
There are lots of reasons for why we get stuck in our roles and can\u2019t seem to generate anything new and creative, they include:<\/p>\n
When we don\u2019t feel supported to try new things or our opinions and thoughts are not valued, we shut down and don\u2019t tap into creative ideas. If we are overwhelmed at work and don\u2019t have breathing space, we don\u2019t have an opportunity to step back, see the big picture, and identify new ways of doing things. To avoid these road blocks and ensure you are being as innovative as possible, you must:<\/p>\n
Being innovative often requires letting go of the old, embracing change and being willing to try something completely new. Don\u2019t be scared.\u00a0 We often talk ourselves out of new thoughts because we believe we will fail. As a friend always says to me \u201cWhat would you do if you knew you would succeed?\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s a great question, because if we have the confidence and assurance we will be successful we are more likely to look for innovative ways of achieving our goals. The fear of not getting it right, will limit your ability and desire to innovate.\u00a0 Letting go of internal resistance and going for it is the best way to innovate\u2026.and the great news is, the more you do it, the easier it will get!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Doing Creative Work Anywhere Many of us feel that we aren\u2019t innovative or creative. That we don\u2019t tap into that part of our brain enough and that creative work is reserved for artists, musicians or advertisers. The reality is that … Continue reading