10 Tips To Innovate Yourself At Work

The desire to be more creative and innovative is something that many of us strive for in our work lives. However, it can be challenging to tap into our creativity when we are faced with work environments and conditions that don’t encourage or allow for it. For example, a company culture that values playing it safe over taking risks can limit the ability to come up with new and innovative ideas.

To overcome these challenges and tap into your creative potential, it’s important to identify and address the factors that may be holding you back. This can include changing your perspective on your work and seeking out opportunities to challenge yourself, expanding your network and seeking out new perspectives, and taking time to recharge and engage in activities that inspire you.

10 tips to innovate yourself at work

One of the keys to becoming more innovative is to keep your creative muscles in shape. This means continually practicing and honing your skills so that they become stronger and more effective over time. This is similar to any other type of muscle group – the more you work it, the better it becomes. To help you become more innovative at work, we’ve compiled a list of 10 simple ways to boost your muscles and make it easier to be more creative at work every day.

1. Start conducting stand-up meetings

Incorporating stand-up meetings into your daily routine can have a profound impact on creativity and innovation. Standing during a meeting can help change the energy dynamic and create a more energetic, enthusiastic, and action-oriented atmosphere. It can also help to motivate your team and encourage them to be more engaged and productive. If you need to convince your boss, there are many articles available that highlight the numerous benefits of stand-up meetings. The simple switch from sitting to standing can make a big difference in the overall dynamic and success of your meetings.

2. Create an inspiring environment

Surround yourself with things that inspire you. When you come across something in the world that catches your eye, put it on display. This can be anything that captures your attention, such as a captivating advertisement, a unique menu, or a humorously written email. The more thought-provoking it is, the better! If you have wall space nearby, find a spot to display your inspirations. If you work in an open office with limited wall space, consider creating a virtual display using a platform like Pinterest.

3. Have a collaborative partner

Innovation is often not a solo effort. Choose a colleague with whom you have a good rapport and make yourselves accountable to each other. Encourage each other to take risks and try new things, whether it’s trying a new restaurant for lunch, presenting ideas in a unique way, sharing motivational articles, or just engaging in classic brainstorming sessions. Innovation is made easier and more enjoyable with a partner.

It is good to have a close partner at work

4. Start with small innovations

The misconception that innovative ideas have to be grandiose and industry-disrupting can be intimidating and limit creativity. But in reality, it’s the accumulation of many small, novel actions that can make a significant impact. Adopting a mindset of mini innovations offers several benefits, including quick implementation, a low-fuss approach, and the ability to garner interest and support from both your team and organization. Experiment with small changes, such as adjusting your email sign-off, finding new ways to reward yourself, or revamping your meeting starting process.

5. Challenge your habits

We all have routines and tasks we perform without much thought. This is what helps us excel in our jobs, but it can also limit our creativity. Take a moment to identify the tasks you perform automatically throughout the day and consider alternative ways to approach them. It may not always result in a better solution (such as using spell check for proofreading), but it can open up new perspectives and lead to new and improved ways of performing familiar tasks.

6. Turn your concepts into reality

Stop speaking and start constructing! Take your ideas and translate them into words, turn those words into visuals, and bring your visuals to life as prototypes. When others can physically see your idea, they are less likely to dismiss it and more likely to give it serious consideration, and become more invested in refining and strengthening those ideas. Even rough sketches are better than no representation at all.

7. Shortlist your options

Imposing new possibilities can sometimes be challenging when you have too many options. However, when you impose restrictions on yourself, it can inspire innovative thinking and lead to creative problem-solving. Experiment with limiting different elements in your work, such as restricted language, limited resources, altered target audience, or unconventional communication methods. This exercise aims to spark new ideas and encourage outside-the-box thinking in approaching familiar tasks.

Shortlist the most suitable options for you

8. Go outside

Take a break and go outside, even if it’s just for a short walk. Pay attention to your surroundings and make a conscious effort to observe new things. To make it a more structured activity, create a game where you search for items that start with the letter “A” on the first day, “B” on the second, and so on. This will activate your subconscious and create connections between what you see and the problems you were working on in the office.

9. Start the day with creativity

Instead of instantly checking your phone in the morning, start your day by feeding your imagination. Choose a favorite song, podcast, or blog to inspire your creativity and attitude for the day. This small change can make a huge impact on your innovative thinking and set a positive tone for the rest of the day.

10. Imagine your hero’s solution

When facing a challenging problem, seek inspiration from your heroes. Keep a list of creative influences near your workspace. When stuck, consult the list and imagine how they would solve the problem. Consider solutions from the perspective of figures like Willy Wonka, Coco Chanel, or Salvador Dali, and let their unique approaches enlighten your problem-solving process.

Innovation requires a fresh perspective, and these techniques help you view the world differently. Incorporating them into your routine will make innovation a natural part of your work. Keep in mind, pursuing innovation takes courage, but it can inspire others to join in. Stay determined, even on tough days, as persistence trumps resistance.