Just take a cue from Pat Lencioni, a consultant who crafted a novel approach to writing a business guide — literally — by authoring an unconventional business book, that uses characters and a plot line to get the point across. His creativity paid off with over 2.5 million copies sold. But even if you're not the creative type and if writing your own book seems a little out of your league, try these simple tips to change up your routine and get the creative juices flowing. Just read on and see how.
- Make Time For Creative Thinking - It's easy to block out time on our calendars for meetings and conference calls, but blocking out a little time in your day (maybe after office hours) for creative thought should be a priority too. Set aside time in your day to turn on some music, do some writing or drawing — any activity that helps to tap into your creative side. By mixing up your daily routine with something creative, you may start to see daily tasks differently and this could lead to some interesting innovation.
- Get a Fresh Perspective - After a couple of years at the same job, you may start to see your career path and yourself in a certain way. Refresh your perspective on your routine by revisiting the time when you first landed that job. Think of the skills you touted to get the position, and what excited you most about the job prospect. Thinking about the career you have more objectively can help you to take better inventory of what skills you're using, and what skills you've forgotten were important. You may find a whole new side to the job that you've forgotten was there — and you may like it.
- Get to Work - . . . well, a different kind of work. If you're sitting at a desk all day, change it up. Manual labor, like gardening, or even volunteering for an organization like Habitat for Humanity will help to get your body — and your mind — more active. Physically forcing yourself out of a rut can help inspire creative thought.
- Carry a Notepad With You — Everywhere - You never know when the next big idea will strike. It could be when you're waiting in line for coffee or on the bus. I habitually wake in the middle of the night with a great idea for x, y, or z, but drift back to sleep, forget to write it down, and it's lost forever. Write things in your journal, jot down ideas on the run, and even use your phone's notepad feature to make keeping track of your brilliant ideas a little easier.
- Read Some New Material - Reading one news site is an easy way to get your daily headlines, but exposing yourself to new reading material can help to redirect your thought process. Try catering to your intellectual side by reading editorials in the paper or picking up a novel. Reading and digesting some creative lit will stimulate your mind and get you thinking a little more creatively and help you to express yourself that way.
- Don't Be Afraid to Speak Up - Get in the habit of sharing ideas and opinions at work. Even if you're afraid of voicing a "dumb" idea, getting in the habit of participating will help you to stay on your toes and keep you brainstorming.
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