The productivity of a workplace relies on a balance between work and rest. Without balance, it is easy to burn out. This is in part achieved by creating an environment that promotes the importance of teamwork and fulfillment. Creativity allows a free flow of ideas and innovation, and is now the cornerstone of any successful operation. Below are a few easy ways to incorporate this into your daily work routine. It is time to have fun with what you do!
Make work fun!
It sounds hokey to say but making the workplace fun can actually reward your brain by giving it a shot of dopamine. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter, affects the parts of the brain controlling emotions and the ability to recognize pleasure and pain. When you experience something fun and engaging, dopamine releases, pushing you to keep wanting more. Dopamine also works to seal the experience in your memory. It’s the secret sauce to making learning stick! The more we are interested in an activity, the more dopamine is released, and the better we remember it! Try to find ways to include fun in the workplace such as games or contests. By making this a habit, you will soon notice a boost in office morale, which can positively affect the quality of your work and the atmosphere around you.
Change your environment!
How do you feel when you walk into your workspace? …energized or dispirited? Many studies show that the physical, cultural and technological features of a work environment can affect your work productivity. Take some time to get more creative with the space where you work. A fun idea is to create a vision board full of goals and inspiring visuals. Don’t hold back. Incorporate colors, patterns and anything else that increases the energy of everyone in the space. Perhaps the positive energy you create will inspire and motivate everyone to reach their goals.
Encourage open communication.
Open communication and collaboration has a wide range of benefits for office creativity and morale. As a leader, be open to sharing ideas and updates with employees. Encourage this open communication, and get their feedback and thoughts. This type of behaviour engages those around you, resulting in employees feeling equally invested in the company’s success. Feeling valued will in turn encourage everyone to push harder and become more satisfied with their work. As the old saying goes, there is no “I” in team.
Have clear goals in place.
Lack of direction is a recipe for disaster. It leads to lack of motivation and overall job dissatisfaction and unhappiness. Include employees when determining what these goals should be in order to establish common objectives. Teamwork makes the dream work!
Avoid micro-managing.
Instead, aim to encourage employees to take on the self-starting attitude of an entrepreneur. By giving them that freedom, employees will become more dedicated to their job and strive to come up with fresh ideas. According to BIZFIT 2015 founder, Colin McGuire, “When you empower your employees by creating an entrepreneurial environment, you take your business to the next level. Motivated, passionate employees are resourceful enough to develop creative and effective solutions to problems and roadblocks on their own.”
No matter what job you have, there is a way to incorporate creativity into your daily routine. Let’s face it, it makes life more interesting when you can embrace your own originality and connect seemingly disparate ideas. So, take a moment to nurture your inner innovator, reduce stress, and give yourself the gift of a more fulfilling workday.