Creativity in the workplace is about looking at things with fresh eyes. Here’s how to get creative in the workplace and share new ideas with your line manager as a Young Professional!
Finding ways to be creative at work
- Surround yourself with inspiration! Ask if you can have objects or motivational quotes around your workspace to make you feel fresh and motivated. If you get useful to-do lists or guides from your manager, ask if you can attach them to the wall as reminders (and feel free to use coloured markers for fun visual reminders if you do).
- Bounce ideas off a buddy! If you have an idea for a new way of doing things, or a new project, it’s hard to feel motivated on your own. Bounce the idea off another apprentice, your mentor, your tutor, your line manager… together, you could play with your idea to see if it could become a reality.
- Flip your assumptions! Think of all the things you do in your working day without thinking, because they are routine. Are there ways to tweak that routine and make it better?
- Share the passions that make you YOU! You might be in a football club, or love writing stories, or be Britain’s next big baker. Share your passions in conversation and you might find you get recommended for new and interesting work activities, because your line manager has a better idea of your off-the-job skills and interests.
- Take breaks outside the workplace! It’s harder to be creative when you’re stuck looking at the same things all day / every day. If you’re having a sandwich for work, why not have a walk and get to know your local area better? That change of scene can lead to fresh perspectives.
How to tell your line manager about a new idea
If you have an idea for a new process, project, or a new way of doing things, that’s great. Share your idea! The best way is to approach your line manager with your idea and see what they think. If you do something brand new without telling one, you might be missing information or knowledge, and your new idea might not be quite right, or not what the workplace really needs at that time. Bounce your idea off people to see what they think, but your line manager is the one who matters most, because they have the final decision to either make your new idea happen, or take it higher up to THEIR manager to see if your idea could help the organisation.
If you ask your manager about trying something new and the answer is no, don’t feel down about it. It’s okay! It’s not personal – they’re just using their extra skills and experience to think about what the organisation needs. It’s still really good that you had a new idea, and it’s also really good that you understood workplace culture and ran it by your line manager before racing off to try something new on your own without feedback.
Creativity is a life and work skill
Creativity is something we ALL have, and it’s a skill – and a way to approach life – that you can build with time. Creativity boosts your self belief, which is a skill you can develop for free with our online Young Professional training. Click the link to start building the skills you need for life and work, with bite sized activities and tips every week.
