How can you build and maintain a creative culture within your organization?
In the February issue of Change This, Josh Linkner answers that question by offering the following seven key principles for How to Build Your Organization’s Creativity Mojo.
The downloadable manifesto is an excerpt from Linkner’s new book Disciplined Dreaming: A Proven System to Drive Breakthrough Creativity
Visit ChangeThis.com to download their monthly manifestos on persuasion, change, innovation, inspiration and excerpts from recent business books.
Through extensive research and 20+ years of experience, Linkner has discovered seven key principles for building and maintaining a creative culture, which include:
1. Fuel passion: Companies that can rally their teams around a clear and important purpose and create a fun and inspiring environment for achieving that purpose inject passion deep into their teams.
2. Celebrate ideas: This isn’t just about handing out bonus checks for great ideas (although, that is a good start). Celebrate creativity with praise (both public and private), career opportunities, and perks.
3. Foster autonomy: The act of creativity is one of self-expression. Tell your team what results you’re looking for, then get out of their way.
4. Encourage courage: Encourage your employees to say what they think, make tough decisions without excessive agonizing, take smart risks, and question anything that’s inconsistent with your organization’s core values.
5. Fail forward: Some bets will pay off, some will fail. The key is to fail quickly by experimenting with ideas and letting go of those that don’t pan out.
6. Think small: Whatever your organization’s size, try to approach creativity like one of the ‘smalls,’ by being curious and nimble, maintaining a sense of urgency, and embracing change.
7. Maximize diversity: Human diversity —in thought, work experience, religions, nationalities, hobbies, political beliefs, races, sexual preference, age, musical tastes, and even favorite sports teams—helps build creative cultures.
