This idea is excerpted from Barbara’s book “Handle with CARE: Motivating and Retaining Employees” (McGraw-Hill 2002.)

In an article titled “Creativity in Teams” in The Inner Edge, Steven R. Pritzker, Ph.D., writes about being a part of the greatest creative team in television history—the group that produced The Mary Tyler Moore Show. It won more Emmys than any other prime-time show. He finds that creative environments, environments where new ideas flourish and people give their very best, share certain features:

1.  Innovative organizations offer a work atmosphere in which everyone can safely express ideas (respect). The approach of the executive producers created an atmosphere in which the show belonged to everyone, and that resulted in a staff that worked harder and felt prouder (reason for being).
2. The leaders in creative organizations are not afraid to let go of the reins (atmosphere). These leaders will seek honest feedback about their behaviors and use it to improve leadership. Creativity will flourish only when ideas are received with as much support as possible; creativity cannot grow in an atmosphere that is controlling, bureaucratic or inflexible (respect). Leaders are often unconscious of how their controlling behavior causes others to be fearful and “shut down (atmosphere).”
3. Creative collaboration can grow with differences of opinion(empathy). Fighting is good! But that’s not the same as fighting caused by poor communication. Differences of opinion can be beneficial when openly communicated (creative communication).
4. Creative organizations make sure to include all members in the process of developing ideas (appreciation)—and use humor to diffuse any tensions (enthusiasm). Thomas Edison started each day with a joke-telling session. A happy, upbeat atmosphere helps foster creativity.

What kind of an atmosphere have you created for your team?

Ideas for a more creative environment:

• Create an innovation chamber—Set aside a conference room, cafeteria, hall (anywhere except an office) to use as a space for meeting and exchanging ideas. Set up two or three easels with paper and offer a wide assortment of colored, good-smelling markers and crayons for writing ideas. As people enter the room remind them that “anything goes” and “every idea is a good idea.”
• Set up a creative corner—Stock the area with books, learning games, creativity videos, and lots of toys. Encourage your employees to spend a little time each week playing in the creative corner to bring our the imaginative child in them. Decorate the room with employees’ baby pictures to reinforce that we all need to be more spontaneous.
• Post a brainstorming board—Write out a common problem on a colored index card and post it in the center of a bulletin board. Provide white cards on which employees can write and then post their solutions and responses.