Staying competitive and sustaining success in today’s business environment requires thinking “outside the box”. Patented technologies, improved bottom line, streamlined processes, and market leadership are some of the compelling reasons for unleashing creativity in the workplace. Acquiring skills that help develop creative potential require strategies that are an interplay of art and science. The art is about intuitive wisdom —believing that you and your team have the intuitive ability for creative thinking and giving your mind time to synthesize unconventional, breakthrough solutions through deep, exploratory thinking. The science is about effectively implementing the tools and techniques to spark ideas.

Here are seven ways to ignite and foster creative thinking in the workplace:

1. Hang a large piece of paper on your office door; at the top, write a question or issue that requires a solution. Invite everyone to freely share thoughts and ideas.

2. Show a stand-up comedy video before every creative session.
Laughter stimulates free thinking. You can also read a book of jokes for a few minutes to break the ice before meetings. Randall Osborne, professor of psychology at Indiana University, cites evidence that developing a respect for humor in the workplace has brought amazing results in large corporations such as Kodak, where it was learned that humor and creativity went hand in hand. Kodak has developed a “humor room” where employees can escape the pressures of their work. (more…)

One might think, during a job interview, which ever candidate displays knowledge of the company…. would be the one that stands out. Maybe a few years ago, but now you’re more likely to differentiate yourself in an interview, by not prior researching a company. Don’t get too excited. This is not the kind of differentiation that hooks the job. Researchers say that about 68% of job candidates are more informed, than they were five years ago. However, there are still ways that you can set yourself apart from other candidates- in a good way. Here is how:

In Depth Research
It is not enough to just do a quick visit of the companies website, and get key points. You need to devote some time, so that you can dig beneath the catch phrases. Look at the different types of services offered and expansion plans. Find out what the primary objectives are, read media announcements, search products, and discover who the firms executives are. This will allow you to get a grasp on what the companies overall focus is, and then enable you to sustain a relevant dialogue during the interview.

Annual Reports
Public companies will have an annual report. This will reveal the companies financial stability, and any fiscal situations of concern. Any expansion or downsizing information will be included, too. This is useful information in that, if a company is loosing money, you may want to inquire if the companies budget is being affected, and what implications that may hold for the company and team members. (more…)