How to Use Creativity for Success: Four Strategies for Innovating - Vivsco.com.ng

In today’s fast-paced business world, innovation is not just a luxury, it’s a necessity. Companies that embrace new ideas, foster new thinking, and encourage risk-taking will thrive. 

But what is the key to fostering creativity in the workplace? The answer lies in a safe environment: an environment where people feel free to speak up, share their ideas, and make mistakes without fear of being judged. This culture is the foundation for innovation that drives growth and success.

I recently met with Meg Retelewski, an innovator, founder of Clariteza, an award-winning dancer, and former professional violinist, to discuss how to foster creativity and innovation in the workplace. Meg shares valuable insights on how to harness creativity, especially in environments where performance is more important than research. 

She and her team lead a creative innovation lab that leverages psychology, neuroscience, and creative discourse to unlock creativity and innovation. One of the takeaways from our conversation? It’s so important to bring all of ourselves—our passions, experiences, and personalities—to our work. Mag’s approach to creativity uses business strategies to show that we are whole, which is often what drives true innovation.

Creative Thinking as a Problem-Solving Approach

At its core, creativity is about solving problems in new and innovative ways. This isn’t limited to art or design: it’s relevant in every field, from business to technology, healthcare, and education. Whether you’re in management or on the front lines, creative problem-solving is what drives organizations forward.

Meg emphasizes that creativity is not an innate trait that is only possessed by a select few, but rather a skill that anyone can develop. As he puts it: “Many people think of creativity as limited to the realm of music, art, and design, but the truth is that creativity is the foundation of great achievements in business, technology, healthcare, and more. Whether you’re in management or working on a factory floor, working on the shop floor creating and solving problems is what drives companies forward.

The best part? When it comes to creativity, it can learned as a skill. It’s about developing ideas that expand possibilities rather than restricting them. Once you understand how to think creatively, you can apply these techniques to all aspects of your life, whether you’re finding solutions to a work project or solving personal problems. So if you’re ready to unleash your creativity and expand your mind, here are four tips Mag shares to help you get started:

1. Expand your knowledge base

Think of your brain as a giant library: every experience, every knowledge, and the skills you acquire are like adding a new book to your collection. The most creative people tend to have the largest, most diverse libraries because they gain a variety of experiences to solve problems in new ways. There is another way to expand your knowledge base, and that is through innovation. Our brains thrive on new experiences and learning, even if it doesn’t feel right at first, because innovation stimulates curiosity and promotes personal growth.

2. Play with creativity: embrace difference

Creativity thrives when we allow ourselves to experiment. We often get stuck in rigid patterns of thinking and try to find the “right” answer quickly. But real innovation happens when we explore many possibilities.

Meg shares a thought-provoking thought: “Imagine having 100 different ways to solve a problem. When you allow yourself to explore all the possibilities, no matter how daunting, you create the opportunity for real progress.”

Mag encourages you to embrace divergent thinking—the practice of allowing yourself to generate multiple solutions without immediately worrying about their feasibility. To cultivate this mindset, you need to be open-minded and optimistic. Skepticism is good, but cynicism stifles opportunity. Believing in certain unfounded ideas often leads us to solutions that are unlikely to work. The goal is not to find the perfect answer right away, but to expand our thinking and see where it takes us.

3. Divergent Thinking: Focus on Your Goals

While divergent thinking (exploring multiple ideas) is important, divergent thinking is where creativity translates into action. This involves reducing and refining ideas to implement the best possible solution. But different ideas require effort, let's face it: We often avoid that effort because our brains are used to saving energy.