Disclaimer: I am not a writer by trade, so bear with me on this. There’s about a 65% chance of unintentional grammatical errors and run-on sentences.
Now, I’d like to discuss the fragile nature of creativity in an agency environment. Creativity is a magnificent, deceitful, elusive unicorn that taunts you from behind your computer screen. When you think you might have caught it, or at least know where to reliably find it, the realization begins to sink in that you are utterly mistaken. And the chase begins anew.
Though I’ve only been in this business for a few years, it’s obvious that fostering creativity is one of the most vital team-building/business-building/individual-growth skills to fight for in your office. So, how do we make sure that creativity has a proper place to dwell within the deepest crevasses of the office? After all, tension is inevitable in the office, because like, Debbie from PR ate that piece of chocolate cake you were saving from Wednesday’s birthday lunch (UGH). But how do you keep the team moving forward and working together in spite of that tension? That, my friends, is (literally) the million-dollar question.
From my humble point of view, the solution lies in a mindset that focuses on a few key things: a fantastic fleet of imaginative employees, managers who encourage and lead, and substantial honest, professional communication on all fronts. This means THOROUGH communication, HONEST collaboration with teammates, and above all, remaining professional by not allowing your emotions—or ego—to get the best of you.
I’ve seen firsthand that creativity thrives in a supportive, trusting work environment. So foster an environment that helps employees progress. Teach them. Be POSITIVE. Give everyone chances to let their creativity flow, even employees who currently play “smaller” roles. You are a team, working together to achieve a common goal. Your workplace culture has to be AIRTIGHT for business and individual employees to flourish. Where there is opportunity, there is creativity. Make others feel appreciated and encouraged. Build an environment that inspires collaboration.
From there, creativity and amazing work inevitably follow.
