Why is creativity not looked for?
Well, one of the main reasons for this is that a lot of people think that being creative is a waste of time. It has never been stated out loud, but that is what most people imply. The thought is that when being creative, it will most likely slow down the productivity of an organisation rather than boost it. It all depends on how creative you are and you will never know unless you give it a shot.
Another reason is the fact that most people always have the mindset that “thing have always been done this way” and they are reluctant to try new things, simply because it is a hassle. People refuse to brainstorm and come up with new ideas because they already have a way of doing things.
Then there are those who are afraid of change. There is no argument there; it is quite a hassle when change is involved however, it could be for the better. It would not hurt to give it a try.
What is so difficult in making HR creative?
The first and the most common reason is the lack of support for creativity within the department. In whatever organisation, the HR departments seem to have the lowest self-esteem from everyone in the organisation. This all depends on how the organisation sees and values their HR team.
It is also too uptight. The role of an HR management team is to ensure that the employees of an organisation behave ethically and accordingly to the organisation policies. So there is a certain level of strictness which clashes with the creativity that could be incorporated into the work.
The HR department of any organisation holds a lot of confidential information. Handling a lot of information as such clashes with the ability of being creative and often leads to high stress levels within the department. Hence, a lot is missed out on, in terms of what is really going on in the organisation and with your employees. The ideal approach to a situation as such is to determining which of it is confidential and which is not and the rest will work its way out.
HR folks do not see creativity as a strategic approach. They overlook the fact that it is possible to be strategic in creative methods. The only thing that has to be done to burst the bubble is to let your mind wander and be as creative as possible and adjust according to strategic methods along the way.
How to encourage creativity in the workplace
Let them be creative. Most people expect others to bring their ideas to the front but most of them do not know if they should or should not. Employees want to be creative with the work they do; all they need is a little boost allowing them to push the boundaries.
Ask questions. Many organisation s have a driven culture where orders are given and are expected to be completed as soon as possible. Tap into their minds and ask them what they think. This is basically a key to their creativity.
Support ideas given by others. You may not always be right even though you are the chief; take a listen to what the others have to say, even if it means giving up on your pitch.
It is possible to be creative with anything, including HR, as long as you know how and what to do in order to get the best result.
