Office Habits That Kill Creativity

Everyone wants to come up with the next greatest idea, app, or solution that puts them on the map at work. But these bad office habits could wreak havoc on that creative spark.

Too Much Logic

Are you the type of person that comes up with a concept and then immediately says, “That won’t work!” Try letting ideas flow freely, without judgement. If you’re constantly evaluating the merit of each idea that pops into your head, you may squash that winning solution without realizing it!

Don’t Be The Expert

“Know what you don’t know” is a great piece of advice for life, but it also applies to work. If you think you know all there is to know, you can’t possibly be open minded enough to let new ideas in. Be willing to learn and those creative juices will start flowing.

Don’t Be A Novice

On the flip side, if you’re new to your field or job and haven’t learned the basics, it can be hard to be creative. If you need more education or training, seek it out. Taking the steps to be competent in your area of study will set a good foundation for those brilliant ideas later on.

There’s More Than One Answer

In most cases, there’s more than one solution to any problem. Don’t fall into the trap that there is only one right answer. Sure, there are certain mathematical absolutes like 1+1=2, but problem solving at work is rarely that simplistic. Even if you come up with one solution, keep looking. You may find something that will work even better!

Don’t Get Bogged Down

Some problems become so complex that you can drown in the data. If you are completely overwhelmed by information, your brain cannot both process the facts and be creative. Limit the parameters of the problem to just the basics to get started. You can always narrow down ideas later.

Don’t doubt your ability to be creative by thinking only “gifted” people possess this ability. It can be learned just like any other skill! Make note of these pitfalls, and with practice, you will be able to brainstorm ideas more easily.