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Do you struggle to find time to listen to and seek out new ideas? Do people in your organisation feel like they are never encouraged to challenge the status quo? Are new ideas regularly being squashed at your company? Following are five of the most impactful ways to ensure you are not killing creativity, but instead creating a culture where innovation thrives.
What percentage of the time do you feel challenged by the work that you do? On average, people experience a sense of challenge – that is, feel stretched by the work they are given, but feel they have the skills and resources to rise to the challenge – 44% of the time. Research has shown that feeling a strong sense of challenge in one’s work is a critical driver of innovation. Challenge refers to people working on tasks that are complex and interesting — yet at the same time not overly taxing or unduly overwhelming. It is important that you don’t simply think about how to give people (including yourself!) the biggest possible challenge. Instead you should ensure that the level of challenge you set is one that is achievable. On the flip side, don’t set tasks that people can complete with their eyes closed. As a manager, take time to thoughtfully consider how you allocate tasks and projects to people. Ensure that you are matching these elements so that people feel a significant sense of challenge.
