Unleash your inner creative
Jonathan Pease, We Are Unity’s Creative Director.
Let’s not beat around the bush. Creativity sits at the core of any good business. Organisations are born and sustained through the creation of new, innovative and disruptive ideas.
At We Are Unity, we’re firm believers that great ideas are not just the domain of capital-c Creatives. Everyone has the potential for creativity. From seeking out ideas and inspiration to approaching problems from a fresh angle and exploring new ways of thinking, we are all being creative everyday. Taking the best ideas and developing them further through a diverse collaboration of minds and creative styles will make them even better.
So how do you spark the right conditions for creativity? There are four sustainable practices we encourage our people to employ. Give them a try to kick start your creativity in 2022!
Set your space for greater creativity
Think about how a yoga studio, from the soft lighting to the soothing sounds and smells, is meticulously designed to instil calm and relaxation. Similarly, establishing your creative space is about designing the right environment to inspire your creativity. What this looks like will differ from person to person, but there are a few basic principles we recommend following:
Dedicate your time - Set aside some time in your diary and make sure it will be free of distractions and interruptions.
Give yourself room to breathe – Setting time aside is great, but creativity is hard to simply ‘switch on’. Put some space between your creative time and business as usual and use it to centre yourself. A quick bit of physical activity in a natural, outdoor setting will do you wonders.
Inspire yourself - Design your space around things that inspire you. If you love a good view, sit by a window. If you need the hum of people, go to a cafe.
Practice active collaboration
When working creatively with others, it’s crucial that all involved understand that the idea is king - not the person or people who came up with it. Once an idea has left someone's mouth, it belongs to everyone. By allowing others to take ownership of the idea, building on it and shaping it as they see fit, you can ensure all of your different perspectives come to light, while reinforcing the value of your collaborators who may not see themselves as traditionally creative.
To get people comfortable with this concept we suggest some regression. Shoot from the hip and don’t be afraid to say the ‘wrong thing’. If the most senior person in the room says an idea that seems stupid at first, it clears the way for everyone to speak their mind. Some of the greatest ideas begin as jokes or throwaway comments. But with the right lens and some careful, collaborative building and shaping, they can evolve into something truly inspired.
Shift your perspective once in a while
Creativity doesn’t start in response to a problem or creative brief - it starts with your lived experiences. They form the basis of your perspective, inspiration and ultimately, creative ammunition. The more diverse the perspective, the greater the potential for thoughtful, creative and innovative ideas.
New perspectives can be found anywhere beyond the margins of what you’re comfortable with, by being curious and observant of the the different rituals and idiosyncrasies that exist beyond your own cultural bubble. Take a different route to work and observe the world around you as you go. Explore genres and mediums and channels you traditionally wouldn’t, considering the context and the motivations of their authors and creators. When it comes time to be creative, you’ll have a greater range of perspectives and personas that you can tap into for inspiration.
Turn creativity into a habit
Like most things in life, the best tool to build creativity in your people is practice. Don’t wait for problems to come around and force you to be creative. Throw quick, impromptu brainstorms into your daily all hands meetings. Apply an uncommon creative lens to a simple, straightforward task. And bring your finance director into your next creative session.