There is a path to tow for maximum productivity at work. Along this path, anyone who desires workplace productivity must maintain the quality of being organized, efficient, and mission-driven. Another important but underrated quality which engenders workplace productivity is creativity. Whether an activity in the workplace involves individuals or a team, creativity is an invaluable asset that maximizes productivity.
Creativity ushers a breath of fresh air into work activity. It has been confirmed that through creativity, engagements are improved upon, and confidence is boosted. When creativity is present in the workspace, problem solving becomes easier. According to the World Economic Forum creativity is one of the ten skills that will shape the world from 2020.
Creativity serves businesses in so many ways. Through creativity, you can:
Enhance innovation
Innovation is a product of novel ideas and the utility it serves. Creativity is required for generating original ideas but creative solutions ensures the practicality of these ideas.
Boosts productivity
Creativity creates an enabling  environment for productivity
It eliminates the laxity enforced routine
This is the drudgery that evolves out of daily routines without dynamism. Creativity introduces fresh ideas and helps us perceive things differently.
Creativity helps us tackle significant problems
It allows the workforce focus on the big picture, and the long term goal. When the workplace encourages creativity, your workforce can channel their energy to more impactful activity other than the day to day insignificant low utility activities.
Motivating your workers forces them to pursue meaningful ventures at work. It encourages them to commit to completing tasks that will have a visible impact on your business.
Creativity explores passion, and being passionate about our  work makes it’s less tedious and demanding on us. That way we can enjoy what we do.
Promoting creativity in the workplace increases the chances of success. Businesses learn from failures, and so the freedom to operate in aa creative environment without the fear of failure will only set a path of success. The fear of failure restricts productivity, forcing employees and entrepreneurs to disregard innovation. The result is that this prevents improvement in work process, and even the creation of new products.
Creativity fosters adaptability
Creativity helps entrepreneurs to adapt accordingly. When challenges present themselves, it takes the application of creativity to adapt, and tackle these challenges without compromising on core business philosophies. Change is constant in business, and to adapt solutions to changes in business environment requires creative solutions.
Creativity ensures growth in business
When creativity is allowed to breath in business, such a business grows. This is because the absence of creativity restricts innovation, and growth is one of the by-products of innovation. Businesses must adopt flexible solutions, and avoid the stagnation that  comes with one dimensional approach to challenges.
It’s easy to fall into cognitive fixedness because it can be tempting to approach every situation the same way you have in the past. There are, however, differences between each situation.
How to Foster Workplace Creativity
Now that we have established the currency of creativity for productivity in the workplace, how can an environment that encourages creativity be enabled?
1. Program  creative thinking opportunities into your calendar
Although creativity springs out of flexible out-of-the-box acts, it must still be intentional, and not random. Create time for creative thinking in your calendar just like other important aspects of business. This will foster collaboration and ensure that ideas are tested regularly.
2. Establish autonomy among team members
When autonomy is fully established in the workplace, the workforce generates more ideas, and tests these ideas. Autonomy in this sense boosts confidence and instils a sense of pride in the team. Do not micromanage your team, but allow everyone to explore their creativity.
3. Enforce flexible work hours.
Enforce flexible work hours as this freedom give room for creativity and innovative ideas. The post pandemic period has taught everyone that remote work is the future. People who work from home think more clearly, create more, and are more innovative.
4. Encourage risk-taking
Risk taking is essential and boosts creativity. People who are not risk takers fear failure, but success is impossible without failure. Risk takers enjoy advantages in business because their creativity is unhindered, and they enjoy more results from their attempts. Allow your team take calculated risks in business.
5. Never waste good ideas
When ideas generated are not stifled, employees will be encouraged to express themselves freely. Always ensure that the best ideas generated are implemented to encourage more creativity. Always commend your team for their great ideas. Incentivize creativity and good ideas.
As originally  reported in (https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/433525)
