The Four Key Principles to a Creative & Innovative Workplace

Principle No. 1 – Create An Atmosphere Which Encourages Ideas and Changes
1. Be an example of the atmosphere you intend for creativity to flourish (modeling).
2. Openly encourage your people to be constantly alert for improvement possibilities in their own and others’ jobs.
3. Personally be alert for improvements and put them into effect whenever possible.
4. Devise projects for your people to cooperate with each other in developing organizational goals; foster team-building.
5. Carefully explain changes and new ideas to all those affected by them and sell the benefits of these changes.
6. Present department problems to the members of your group as opportunities for creative action.
7. Encourage employee-employee mentorship.

Principle No. II – Stimulate and Encourage Creativity in Each Individual
1. Understand the motivations that stimulate creativity. Apply this knowledge in dealing with your employees; particularly the very creative ones.
2. Continually encourage creative ideas such that employees believe creativity is expected.
3. Provide all of your people with the opportunity to solve their own problems before you, or others, step in to “help out.”
4. Provide as much opportunity as possible for an individual to actually try out his or her idea, with whatever practical resources are necessary.
5. Contribute to an idea from your own knowledge and experience wherever it is possible.

Principle No. III — Be Open and Receptive to New Ideas
1. Be empathetic and have a sincere interest in understanding a person’s ideas.
2. Be open-minded on ideas, avoiding biases or prejudices related to the individual or the idea.
a. Always keep in mind that conditions change; yesterday’s impractical idea may be practical today. b. Avoid personal antagonism or preference.
c. Be receptive, irrespective of a person’s performance in other areas of his or her level of responsibility.
d. Consider a given idea, irrespective of the quality (or lack thereof) of previous ideas a person may have submitted.
3. Give each person with an idea as much personal time and attention as possible (and is practical).
4. Treat complaints as suggestions and show appreciation for them.
5. Your mood and manner are indicative of your genuine interest 

Principle No. IV – Give Recognition For All New Ideas and Further Commendations When Deserved 1. Acknowledge and commend the person by: a) A special conference, meeting, or conversation. b) An appropriate memo, certificate, note, etc. c) Entries on permanent records (employment, suggestion, etc.) d) Announcing or presenting the idea before groups. e) Appropriate articles in papers, journals, or periodicals.
2. Recognize and commend the group or department as a whole when deserved. a) By publicity in various media. b) By the supervisor in group meetings.