10 Ways To Show Creativity in the Workplace (Plus Benefits)

Updated October 4, 2022

In many industries, employers value the ability to think creatively to find solutions or generate new ideas. Creative employees can collaborate effectively with their teams and share ideas to improve processes or workflows. Knowing how to show your creativity in the workplace can help you solve problems, boost your productivity and progress in your career.

In this article, we define creativity in the workplace, explain its benefits and provide a list of 10 ways you can develop your own creativity at work.

What is creativity in the workplace?

Creativity in the workplace is the act of transforming new, innovative ideas into reality. Creative employees and managers ask questions and identify new ways to perform tasks.

They are more likely to experiment with different ideas in the workplace, which can lead to new processes that benefit everyone. Cultivating an environment of creativity in the workplace can help teams, departments and companies find innovative solutions and generate new ideas or concepts.

Benefits of creativity in the workplace

Creativity in the workplace has many benefits for both employees and managers. A creative culture can help teams brainstorm new ideas, collaborate effectively and improve their workflows. Specifically, creativity in the workplace can:

Encourage teamwork: Creativity encourages you to collaborate with others to find new information and brainstorm innovative concepts or processes. This type of workplace environment encourages teamwork.
Promote better problem-solving: When you're using your creativity, you can think critically and explore different solutions to complex or challenging problems. A creative workplace promotes better problem-solving methods to find efficient solutions.
Reduce stress: Using your creativity can help you think freely without constraints. Often, the creative process can help you reduce stress, which can boost your productivity and improve your job satisfaction.
Inspire motivation: Having the freedom to perform tasks creatively can help you feel more motivated to complete your work. When a workplace encourages creativity, other employees may feel this same motivation, which can lead to improved outcomes.

10 ways to show creativity in the workplace

Here are 10 ways you can show and promote creativity in the workplace:

1. Collaborate with others

Creative people often draw inspiration from others. You can show your creativity in the workplace by collaborating effectively with your team members or other coworkers. Ask questions to help you understand others' ideas and workflows.

Share your own insights to help others gain new information that may help with their processes. Participate in team meetings and listen actively to others to help you find inspiration for your own creativity.

2. Be willing to take risks

Many creative thinkers embrace challenges at work. Rather than feeling intimidated by the prospect of failure, they're motivated to find new ways to succeed. By taking risks and trying different processes to increase your creativity, you can test new ideas to determine their potential. This process can allow you to refine your ideas and share them with others to improve workflows.

3. Focus on your tasks

Creative people become engaged in the creative process and may work for hours at a time without realizing it. Practice focusing on your tasks to help you be more creative at work. It can be helpful to use focus exercises or meditation to stimulate creative thinking.

If you find yourself struggling to focus, take a short break from your work to allow yourself to recharge. Many people find it becomes easier to focus on their tasks the more they practice this skill.

4. Engage in innovative problem-solving

When you encounter a challenge at work, engage in innovative problem-solving methods to find a creative solution. Use your imagination to brainstorm potential solutions and consider their outcomes. Work to find unique solutions others may not consider. If you're finding it difficult to solve a complex problem, ask your coworkers or manager for ideas and use their input to help you find an ideal resolution.

5. Challenge conformity

Creative people have a strong understanding of the usual processes of their workplace and can recognize when those established practices may benefit from improvement. Challenge this conformity to provide a new perspective into a normal procedure or behavior.

Share your ideas for new processes with others to promote creative thinking and application. Be respectful of others while stating why you believe a new process or idea may be beneficial for the team.

6. Work independently

While it's important to collaborate with others to seek information and find solutions, you can also show your creativity in the workplace by working independently. Become comfortable working on tasks without supervision.

When you have a problem, perform research to help you find a solution on your own. Use your analytical skills to help you generate ideas and improve processes without guidance from others.

7. Show comfort with ambiguity

Creative people are good at accepting ambiguous situations where there may be an unclear path or more than one acceptable solution. Approach situations with this type of mindset to help you consider multiple solutions to a problem. Being comfortable with ambiguity can allow opportunities for more experimentation, which can lead to innovative solutions for challenges at work.

8. Pay attention to detail

Creative people often value preparation and research, which helps them consider potential solutions to problems from multiple viewpoints. When you're brainstorming or problem-solving, pay close attention to detail to ensure you're considering all possible solutions and outcomes.

It's helpful to create lists so you can organize your thoughts. This attention to detail can help you identify areas to improve before you apply your ideas, which can increase the quality of your work.

9. Learn from constructive feedback

While creative people have an emotional investment in their work, they recognize the value of receiving constructive feedback. When you receive constructive feedback at work, accept it graciously and take some time to review it. Then apply the feedback to future situations to improve your ideas or processes. This process can help you continue to learn and advance in your career.

10. Have a strong work ethic

A substantial amount of effort goes into being creative and fostering creativity in the workplace. It's important to have a strong work ethic so you can devote the necessary time and effort to completing a task or project creatively.

When working, try to minimize distractions and manage your time effectively. You may find it helpful to schedule time each day for creative thinking and brainstorming to ensure you complete your tasks on time.