12 Ways To Boost Your Creativity At Work

As workplaces continue to rightsize and downsize, we all find ourselves doing more with less. How do we stay ahead of the workload while staying sane? The key is to put your creativity to work for you so you can do more with less and shine like never before.

Just what is creativity? It is the ability to make, produce, cause to exist or bring into being; the ability to make something out of nothing or to make something better than it was before. Creativity is an inborn force that we all have: If you're alive, you're creative.

It needs to be said, though, that not everyone has the raw talent, creative vision and self-management skills to run out and make a living being an artist. But remember that artistic talent is only one way of potentially millions that you can express your creativity at home or at work.

In today's workplace, creative thinking, problem solving and innovation are at a premium. Here are 12 ways you can express your creativity more powerfully in any workplace:

1.) Use your values, interests, skills and aptitudes to express your unique perspectives, opinions and contributions.

2.) Take full advantage of the unique features of your personality to express your creativity in ways that are natural for you.

3.) Dress your body and your work space in ways that reflect your passion and energy.

4.) In what you say - either verbally or in writing - and how you say it, make sure you use word choice, vocabulary and communication style to showcase your uniqueness.

5.) Everybody works differently. Use your work habits, decision making and problem solving style to express who you really are.

6.) Everybody lives their lives differently. Use your personal habits, time management and outside interests to positively impact who you are at work.

7.) What are you passionate about? What kinds of things do you channel your energy into? What are you committeed to? Take all three to work with you and put them to work for you.

8.) Every creative act begins with a conception. Make sure you capture your workplace brainstorms in concrete ways.

9.) Every creative act develops through an incubation phase. Make sure you put safe boundaries around your own creative work time so it doesn't get overwhelmed with other responsibilities.

10.) Every creative act ends with a birth. Make sure you help each project grow to its next level.

11.) Celebrate your beginnings and your endings. Mark the big moments and look for reasons to play.

12.) Know when it's time to move on ? from ideas, projects and jobs ? then do it.

Still not sure you even are creative? Try reading the now-classic The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. If Julia can't convince you you are creative, then no one can!

Cheryl Lynch Simpson is a Spiritual Director and Solutions Coach who helps women discover and create the life they've always wanted to live. Cheryl is the author of over 30 print/Internet articles and the founder of Coaching Solutions For Women, a coaching website that produces and showcases career, business, and life solutions that improve the life balance of today's busy women. For a complimentary copy of her latest e-book, Ten-Minute Stress Zappers for Women Service Business Owners, visit http://www.coachingsolutionsforwomen.com.

---

How To Get In The Zone And Blast Your Marketing To A Higher Level

This may come as a surprise... but many marketers are... Read More

Creativity: Getting Out of the Box

Leadership, especially in times of change, depends increasingly on the... Read More

20 Ways to Keep Your Writing Inspiration and Creativity High

When stressed or blocked it is wise to make a... Read More

Creativity Management ? Finding Your Voice

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

I Want To Create...

What would you like to create? A peaceful life, a... Read More

Creativity, Innovation, and Market Performance

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Is Your Team Suffering from FWTS?

Who do you know who is feeling stuck, under-performing, or... Read More

Our Limitless Quantum Reality

Modern science tells us that on a sub-atomic level --... Read More

Sleep and Creativity

In my life, sleep is the number one way that... Read More

Top Ten Ways To Jump-Start Your Creativity

1 - Take A Tour of the Great Outdoors Consider... Read More

Analysis of The Monkeys Paw by W. W. Jacobs: A Study in Lateral Thinking

I first read The Monkey's Paw as a youngster in... Read More

Art, Artists and Money

Practical money tips for people in the arts.1. Sock it... Read More

Charge Your Imagination (1)

"The challenges are not in the marketplace. They are in... Read More

Take Time To Think

I recently saw a program on television wherein the participants... Read More

Creativity Management and Team Size

Effective team structure is critical when managing creativity and creative... Read More

Recharge Your Battery

It was 4:15PM on a Thursday when I arrived at... Read More

Art of Creation with Attention

Attention is the greatest creative power in the world. If... Read More

Seeing Problems From Their Creative Side

Did you know that winning actually puts less wear and... Read More

The 7 Simple Steps To Harnessing Your Creative Power And Achieving Incredible Success

Let me repeat what I believe is the most powerful... Read More

3 Simple Steps To Solving Problems

You can move beyond your stuck states by contemplating all... Read More

A New Discovery Of An Old Secret

Some years ago, when the world seemed to close in... Read More

Mindfulness and Independence: Observing Fireworks

"It's a free country," they say. "Celebrate our independence," I... Read More

Computer In The Shop? What Do You Do Now?

Have you ever had one of those days when you... Read More

Connect With Your Creative Dream

We get so busy in our day-to-day life, with all... Read More

Creating Reality ? Discovering the Magician Within

We all create our own reality each and every day,... Read More

Get Creativity?

Creativity is central to the management of our individual lives,... Read More

Are You Inventive Enough to be an Inventor? Some Guidelines to Invention Success!

Inventors make a ton of money when the invention is... Read More

The Healing Powers of Journaling

For the past several years, I have found joy working... Read More

Mind Mapping

Ever been on a project where you had trouble keeping... Read More

Revenge of the Sith ? Creativity and Structure

The common belief is that lack of structure and randomness... Read More

Unlock Your Creative Secret Weapon

It seems like this week a ton of people have... Read More

Macrovision

These days it's all about breaking things down into manageable... Read More

Creativity

Creativity is the gift to mankind. This is not the... Read More