Workplace Creativity Articles

A common method for getting productivity out of people is to set deadlines. HBR contributor Elizabeth Grace Saunders promotes the use of deadlines, advising us to assign deadlines to work that matters. So, if you want more productivity, then you should set tighter...

Yesterday's post focused on using combinations to expand your creativity. Growing is one way to travel toward infinity, but it's not the only way. We can also zoom. Ancient Greek philosopher Anaxagoras established early western concepts of infinity. He stated, "Nor of...

Here's one creativity exercise (I'll share another tomorrow). If you think you've tried every idea related to your field or focus, then you need to think like a computer. What do I mean by this? Computers "think" in binary. Their data are simply combinations of the...

How do you effectively lead others? You can use different leadership styles to either "command and control" or give greater autonomy. Command and control methods stifle creativity and often leave workers dissatisfied by micromanagers. Autonomy can produce greater...

Some people are disconnected from reality. That person on the opposite of side of the political spectrum from you The job candidate with no experience and stratospheric expectations Those customers who want something that cures cancer, tastes like chocolate and costs...

Thanksgiving is more than eating turkey and watching football. Thanksgiving is a powerful idea. Taken literally, it is a reminder to give thanks. In order to do that, you have to take stock in what you have to be grateful for. As people, we are not good at this. Need...

As machines and artificial intelligence take over automated tasks, a greater emphasis will be placed on creative work–a human quality that is difficult for machines to emulate. Another distinctively human quality is free will, including our choice whether or not to be...

Even as businesses recognize the value of creativity (73% believe it increases a company's likelihood for financial success), leaders struggle to foster creativity (61% of leaders don't believe their company is very creative). There is a gap between knowing what's...

Fear and Creativity in Emeryville In his book Creativity, Inc. Ed Catmull calls for a fearless culture. The eloquent and sagacious Maria Popova unpacks this wonderfully. Catmull begins by pointing out that failure, for most of us, is loaded with heavy baggage — a...

In his book Orbiting the Giant Hairball, Gordon MacKenzie shared his experiences visiting elementary schools to show them his sculptures and talk about being an artist. As he took time away from his job at Hallmark Cards to visit students, MacKenzie would ask the...