Unleash the Power of Creativity
Navigating the intricacies of talent operations can sometimes feel like traversing a challenging terrain. As we approach National Creativity Day on May 30, it's the perfect occasion to celebrate the boundless potential of creative thinking and its transformative impact on tackling challenges—especially within the dynamic realm of people and culture operations.
Here are some things talent leaders can do to harness creativity in overcoming project hurdles:
1. Do a walking brainstorming session. Getting out in nature is a great way to spark inspiration and help project teams reset. Rather than the confines of a cold, austere conference room, take a refreshing walk outside while discussing ideas and challenges. This may support you in reframing problems as opportunities for creative solutions.
2. Play a game. Balancing employee engagement against legal and regulatory standards can easily send our brains into overdrive, causing us to tense. Sometimes, your project team may just need something to loosen everyone up. Start your project meeting with a fun game that helps your team relax. If you’re feeling especially creative, find a way to tie the game into your work!
3. Reserve time for individual think sessions. Spending time with our thoughts can yield powerful results. Invite everyone on your team to walk away from the table (or computer) for 10 minutes and jot down ideas for overcoming specific project hurdles. Encourage members to reserve concerns about any limitations or reasons their ideas cannot be implemented. Bring everyone back together to hear each person’s ideas without judgment, then try to implement at least one. Sure, you may have to decide how to make your team’s recommendations more strategic or fitting for your organizational culture, but at least you’ve got new ideas to help you over the hump.
4. Name your project baby. When thinking of a name for a newborn, parents often contemplate the experience and circumstances surrounding a pregnancy or their hopes and dreams for their child. In like manner, coming up with creative names for your operational project or specific features of the project can go a long way in determining its direction. A naming session helps ground the team in the project’s objectives and maintain goal alignment, all the while getting your team’s creative juices flowing. Creative naming also serves to engage both team members and stakeholders.
5. Create a vision board. We create personal vision boards all the time. Who said the same can’t be done for an operational project? Collectively create a vision board for your talent operations project that includes the team’s hopes and goals for the project. Ensure that each team member has input. It doesn’t matter if you are months into a project. This is a great way to rise out of a slump and breathe life back into your project. Refer to your project vision board when inspiration or motivation is needed.
6. Conduct an exploratory session. Celebrate National Creativity Day by drawing inspiration from diverse sources. Explore innovative case studies and TED talks. Study industry leaders and research articles on your project’s subject. Utilize the arts or inspirational quotes for fresh perspectives. Pull from an array of spaces to fuel your creative thinking and uncover unconventional solutions.
National Creativity Day serves as a reminder to human resources professionals that creativity is a powerful tool for overcoming project hurdles and driving innovation. By embracing unconventional thinking and experimenting with new approaches, talent leaders can unleash creative solutions. Dare to think differently, dream big, and let creativity propel your talent operations projects to new heights!
