Creativity

This post was originally published in April of 2016 on another platform:

In PMI Today, Kareem Shaker gives his opinion about creativity in an article How to Cultivate Creativity. I'm not sure how true his ideas are, but they seem similar to ideas I've seen in other papers focused on this topic. He lists 5 specific ways to foster a creative environment. They include:

• Describe the path forward
• Invest in innovation
• Unleash potential
• Welcome failure and recognize success
• Create a stimulating workplace

On the surface these phrases may seem like a conglomeration of buzz words (at least they do to me), but the ideas behind each as expressed in the write up are worth considering. In each organization I've worked for it has appeared to me that we have had varying degrees of success with each of these. I'm certain there is more an organization can do. As each of us plan for our future, let's think about ways we can be creative (this is the "merely asking for it" part as noted in the article as not good enough). More importantly we (particularly the "we" in leadership roles) should be thinking of ways we can better foster an environment that would encourage each of us to actually want to be more creative.
 
Here's the full article:

creativity.pdf