How to Boost the Creative Energy of Employees

As globalization tears down geographic boundaries and market barriers, a company’s ability to innovate by tapping fresh, creative, valuable ideas from employees and customers will allow it to reach its full potential.

In May 2010, IBM released findings from a global survey of more than 1,500 chief executive officers from 60 countries and 33 industries worldwide. The survey found that 60 percent of CEOs believe that – more than rigor, management discipline, integrity or even vision – successfully navigating an increasing complex world will require creativity. Leaders can apply practical ways to shake up ingrained perceptions of individuals in teams and enhance such creativity.

“Creativity needs to be given space to grow, but that doesn’t mean individuals and teams should be completely left to their own devices or are untouchable,” said Richard Bates, chief creative officer for global brand agency The Brand Union. “A creative environment is a nurturing environment. The role of creative leadership is to inspire, curate and moderate while allowing the freedom and space to discover unexpected solutions.”

The same IBM study states that although company leaders in the U.S. bring more integrity on the job than their foreign competitors, they also expect much more government regulation. Eight-seven percent of CEOs surveyed anticipate greater government oversight and regulation over the next five years, while only 70 percent of CEOs in Europe, 50 percent in Japan and 53 percent in China hold this opinion. On the other hand, 61 percent of CEOs in China view global thinking as a top leadership quality, while just 31 percent of CEOs in North America and Europe agree.

“Everybody in the business world operates in a reality where competitors have access to the same technology, same information and same kinds of research,” said Daniel Goleman, author of The Brain and Emotional Intelligence: New Insights. “It’s how you put that together in innovative ways that makes the competitive difference. Putting together that puzzle can’t be forced or regulated. You have to create the circumstances that foster it, that allow it and encourage it, but you can’t order someone to be creative or expect them to be creative under your watch.”