The main difference between your business and your competitors is, and always has been, creativity.
There you go – straight up, simple, no frills.
If your business is in front of your competitor(s), you and/or your team are more creative. If they’re in front of you, they are more creative. Any business leading the way is more creative than its competitors.
Here’s a quick acid test: Were the last employees who left your organisation disruptive and/or disenchanted? How about you – do you feel disruptive and/or disenchanted? If so, that’s a sure sign that talents are not being exploited. Creativity is walking out the door. In some cases, they are walking off to your competitors. And it’s not just all about the money.
Creativity is the ability to come up with new and original ideas. It’s the ability to see the world in new ways and to find new solutions to problems. In business, creativity can be used to develop new products and services, to market your business in new ways, and to solve problems that your competitors haven’t even thought of.
There are many benefits to being a creative business. For one, creativity can help you to attract new customers. People are drawn to businesses that are innovative and that offer something new. Creativity can also help you to retain your existing customers. If you’re constantly coming up with new ideas, your customers will be more likely to stay loyal to your business.
In addition to attracting and retaining customers, creativity can also help you to increase your profits. New products and services can lead to increased sales, and new marketing strategies can help you to reach a wider audience. Creativity can also help you to reduce costs by finding new ways to do things more efficiently.
So how can you encourage creativity in your business? Here are a few tips:
- Foster a culture of creativity. Let your employees know that you value creativity and that you’re open to new ideas.
- Provide opportunities for creativity. Encourage your employees to experiment and to try new things.
- Celebrate creativity. When your employees come up with new ideas, be sure to recognise and reward them.
- Remove the fear of failure. Let your employees know that it’s okay to fail. Failure is a natural part of the creative process. Set some financial parameters, of course. But your organisation has to explore and develop new business to move forwards.
If you want your business to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace, you need to be creative. Encourage creativity in your staff and you’ll be well on your way to success.
Here are some additional tips for encouraging creativity in your business:
- Provide training and resources on creativity. There are many books, articles, and workshops on creativity that can help your employees learn new skills and techniques. Invest with a creativity coach.
- Set aside time for creativity. Schedule regular brainstorming sessions or encourage your employees to take breaks to be creative.
- Create a supportive environment. Make sure your employees feel comfortable sharing their ideas, even if they’re not perfect.
- Celebrate creativity. When your employees come up with new ideas, be sure to recognise and reward them.
“Whatever you do, be different – that was the advice my mother gave me, and I can’t think of better advice for an entrepreneur. If you’re different, you will stand out.” – Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop.
Photo by Andy Kelly on Unsplash
