News & Updates:

Like the website?
Recommend Us To a Friend

Creating the Creative Climate - Part 2

It seems to be true that most businesses underestimate the abil­ity of their "ordinary" workers to produce ideas. In fact, it often appears that some of the "professional" idea men underestimate the abilities of other idea men to produce ideas! But it is also true that there is only one place to get the ideas that any business needs for survival today—from people.

Regular production, clerical, office, and salaried employees in any organization probably represent the greatest untapped poten­tial for new ideas that any company has. But you have to make them want to give you the ideas they have. You can't order people to be creative. You can't really "buy" ideas from them. You can't threaten or otherwise intimidate them into thinking creatively about your company problems. They have to want to do it first. This means you need what is generally termed a creative climate.

The general objectives of a creative climate are to encourage more creative thinking about company problems; to make sure that new or original ideas are never blocked or sidetracked with­out serious consideration by the company; and to provide what­ever training, indoctrination, and encouragement is necessary to help workers think constructively and creatively about every­thing the company does or may need to do. Building this climate, or atmosphere, or attitude is a top-management and executive responsibility. It has to start with the "brass" demonstrating that they are receptive to new or radical solutions to problems. The example that there are no "sacrosanct" ways of doing things must come from the top.

A creative atmosphere in a company is much like water in a hose. There must be a reservoir to provide necessary pressure— and the pressure source must be above any outlets. Just as a faucet or valve can completely shut off the flow of water, a divi­sion or department head can close off the flow of encouragement for ideas. A kink in a hose can stop the flow of water; a poor foreman or supervisor can cut off the flow of ideas. If you puncture a hose, you cut down the pressure and the flow of water. If workers are subjected to negative attitudes and reactions from co-workers and immediate supervisors, it will cut down the flow of their ideas and dissipate the effects of the pressure from above to be creative. And once water reaches the nozzle outlet, you can spray it—in which case it is at the mercy of the wind to carry it about—or you can direct it in a steady, forceful stream against some particular object. And, by giving your "creative climate"some direction, you can do a better job of directing it against specific problems and objectives that are most important.

Related terms include insurance small businesses and business strategic planning.