You don’t need to be working within the creativity industry to understand or benefit from a creative workforce. Similarly, you don’t need a Google-style office full of quirky design elements to foster creativity among staff. You simply need to offer a wide variety of work settings and sufficient technology resources to encourage a more creative working environment.
Social settings
The main way social settings improve creativity in the workplace is by building stronger relationships between staff. Providing employees with a place to relax, chat and eat together will nurture closer personal bonds which will hopefully translate into stronger communication lines in a working environment.
Click for more on how social spaces improve creativity in the workplace.
Collaboration spaces
Collaboration and creativity come hand-in-hand so it’s essential that you provide sufficient opportunity for collaborative work. One of the main ways in which these types of spaces can boost creativity is through the use of innovative and collaborative technology.
Clickshare, media:scape and SMART Boards (such as the Google Jamboard) are all perfect examples of modern office technology which support co-working and mutual participation.
Steelcase research shows that 70% of ideas are generated by working with someone else so multi-user technology such as those mentioned above are the ideal way to seamlessly encourage more collaborative creativity.
Breakout areas
Breakout areas work in a similar way to social spaces with regards to boosting creativity. Giving staff that zone away from their desks where they can rejuvenate, collaborate casually or hold meetings in a more informal environment. This will then allow them to return to their tasks in a more refreshed frame of mind.
Both breakout areas and social settings also encourage communications outside of the professional hierarchy, which will enable those who feel intimidated by senior members of staff to contribute more freely.
Private focus areas
It may seem a little contradictory but in order for some people to be creative and contribute to idea-sharing and development successfully, they need to be allowed some time alone.
Particularly as the transition into open plan working continues to gain popularity, noise and visual distractions can present a significant hurdle for creative thought. This type of interruption can lead to frustration, a dip in concentration and an unwillingness to participate.
Providing a place for private concentration and individual work – whether it’s a focus pod or a private office – will ensure staff get the physical and mental space they need in order to think clearly and creatively.
At the desk
One of the main ways you can boost creativity levels ‘at the desk’ is by considering ergonomics and increased physical activity. By incorporating ergonomically designed furniture and products such as sit-stand desks, staff can reap the benefits of intuitive comfort as well as improved brain function through increased movement.
Click for more advice on how to unlock creativity in the workplace and how you can foster a more creative environment at work.