Here’s how to think differently and stay ahead of the curve.
getty
Successful companies hire people who can add value to the work, not just do the work. That is, successful companies look for and retain people who can make their organization better. You have the opportunity to be creative and help make your organization more innovative or efficient. Here are five ways to help you approach your work more creatively:
1. Proactively identify inefficiencies, and rethink “business as usual.”
If something is frustrating you at work, reflect on that frustration. What is bothering you? Is a process taking longer than you would expect? Do you think a step is unnecessary?
If you are telling yourself that something is “business as usual,” question it. Does it have to be that way? Is there a better approach? Sometimes, mapping out the “as is” process will give you that “ah hah” moment to make the needed change.
Don’t be afraid to question bottlenecks or redundancies. Don’t be afraid to think ahead to avoid potential bigger issues.
2. Be aware of what other company functions or industries are doing.
A great way to be creative is to be aware of what other people are doing. How do other departments streamline processes? What does the approval process look like of other teams? Ask yourself, for instance, “How does Amazon move packages, and can I apply these principles to my process for reviewing documents?”
Be observant. Read business publications. Ask your colleagues. Being curious allows you to obtain information. Knowledge is power.
3. Overcome concerns that your idea is impossible because it is different or new.
Just because an idea or approach has not been done before does not mean it is wrong. Either someone, indeed, never thought of the idea, or a person had the idea but lacked the courage to implement it.
Overcome your bias for doing what is comfortable. Being comfortable does not necessarily mean that it is correct. What is uncomfortable does not mean it is incorrect. Don’t let your feelings of discomfort hold you back from making an impact on your organization.
4. Clearly communicate to your manager how your idea satisfies a business goal.
There are a lot of things you and your manager could do to support your organization. If you want your idea to gain traction, you need to tie your idea to a business need. Think about the goals that your manager has shared with you during meetings. Ask yourself, for example, “How is my idea going to further that goal?” “How is my idea going to help save time or money or increase profit?”
When you can directly connect your new approach to helping support a business imperative, you have a business case. When you have a business case, your idea will be prioritized and supported with resources.
5. Share the idea with colleagues, spark their interest in thinking creatively and develop a creative culture.
Once you have started to implement your idea, let your colleagues know what you are doing. Novel approaches can pique people’s interest and motivate them to come up with new ideas. When everyone starts thinking differently and is excited to do so, you engender a creative culture. You create a working environment where creativity is encouraged, supported and expected.
To make an impact, you have to deliver novel approaches. Successful professionals do things differently, so give yourself license to think creatively. Reflect on issues you notice occurring on your team or in your department. Be curious of different frameworks that other professions, companies or fields are utilizing. Avoid dismissing your idea because it may be different, and share your approach with your manager and later on with other colleagues.
How do you contribute creative approaches to your work? Share with me your stories and thoughts via Twitter or LinkedIn.
