Workplace dynamics play an essential role in shaping an individual's creative process. And let's face it: it can't be the same whether you're in the office or working remotely. The professional environment directly influences the cognitive processes of creativity, and the development of remote jobs necessarily invites us to rethink the question. How can you optimize your creativity in this new work environment? Here's our advice.
Personalize your workspace
Since you're at home, you're free to personalize where you work. So go ahead. Arrange, decorate, and experiment - the key is to create the cocoon that will optimize your creativity. Colors, furniture, lighting - the options are endless. Play with them all to stimulate your innovative thinking.
Establish a Structured Routine
Even more than in the office, establishing a routine is one of the most effective tools when working from home. Set dedicated times for your work tasks, and make sure you stick to your schedule. Breaks are also very important. The rhythm thus created will help you stay productive while freeing up time for creative thinking.
Remote Job: Explore new forms of collaboration
It's a fact that collaboration encourages creativity. And contrary to popular belief, remote work is not synonymous with professional isolation. Today, there are many digital tools and platforms that facilitate online collaboration. So you can multiply your virtual brainstorming sessions and encourage the sharing of ideas until the sparks of creativity fly.
Cultivate your curiosity
Curiosity is one of the roots of creativity. You work remotely, that's a good thing. Because you're not bound by office hours, because you're free to organize yourself as you see fit, you can also more easily think outside the box. Try out new activities, multiply your experiences to enrich your creative repertoire.
Keep a creative diary
Ideas are inherently fragile. They often slip away as surreptitiously as they came. Feature film director David Lynch constantly refers to this in his masterclasses: "Take a pen and paper and write them down immediately so you don't forget them". You can do even better by creating your own creative diary. Jot down any ideas you think are relevant, then come back to them a few days later. It's a good way of sorting things out afterwards, and keeping only what really has value.
And what can your boss do?
Directors and managers also have a role to play in promoting a culture of creativity. Here are several avenues to explore.
Diversity: an asset
Confrontation of ideas is an excellent factor for creativity. So is a diversity of viewpoints. Managers, when building your teams, make sure you bring together people from different backgrounds and cultures. In this way, everyone can approach problems from their own cultural, experiential and thinking perspectives. It's a process that can really help you to think "out of the box", to come up with truly innovative solutions that are easy to implement in a remote work organization that knows no geographical boundaries.
Failure is good
Failure is good. On paper, it sounds like an oxymoron. In reality, it's often the path to success. Managers should encourage experimentation and trial and error, even if they don't produce the desired results. Failure is a useful and crucial process for developing new and creative ideas. Making mistakes should be allowed, even encouraged. It's always the prelude to great discoveries.
There's no point in running
In today's fast-paced world, time is not valued. How many times a day do we hear in the workplace, "You're not going fast enough?" Creativity processes call for a different approach. It can take a long time from the initial idea to its implementation. You have to know not only how to deal with it, but also how to play with it. In this context, a remote organization is particularly well suited to encouraging asynchronous working. This gives us time to :
- Develop long-term thinking.
- Continue to interact even outside meeting times.
- Keep projects moving forward at their own pace, which is what creativity is all about.
Between structure and flexibility
As with any organizational change, remote working affects the way people work together. Encouraging creativity by working remotely requires a balance between structure and flexibility. Now, it’s up to you!