Nowadays we often hear that in order to be a successful entrepreneur you have to be creative and innovative. However, is this really true and, if so, to what extent? And why are creativity and innovativeness so highly praised in the business world?
First things first, though. What exactly is behind the notions of creativity and innovativeness, and how are they linked? Creativity is a dynamic conscious and subconscious mental process of generating new and applicable ideas. In order for an idea to be creative, it needs to be original and effective. When this idea is later used or expressed, we refer to it as innovation.
Creativity and innovation are important in all phases and segments of a company’s life: when there is a need to come up with an idea for a new product or solution, when you need to overcome various obstacles along your way, when considering strategies to reach your target group, when you have to offer something new to your clients, when there is a need to solve new, unusual problems etc.
The only thing that counts in business are results. Everyone wants to reach their objectives fast and in the most cost-effective way possible. Naturally, this is of easier said than done, as textbook solutions are few and far between in the real world, meaning that one always needs to be on the lookout for new and original solutions to new and emerging problems. In situations like these, being creative comes in handy.
Creativity is a personal characteristic inherent to each person. Some people are more creative, others less, but that does not mean that your creativity is set in stone and cannot be improved. There are many techniques to help you out in situations when you feel stuck and have not a clue how to proceed. The most popular one is brainstorming, but there is also a plethora of other techniques that can help your brain in getting back on track. Try to be open-minded, curious, and positive. Allow your imagination and intuition to come forth.
However, it can be stressful when all of creative tasks are piled on the shoulders of a single person, and since stress is a well-known creativity killer, you really should not put too much pressure on one person. Fortunately (and sometimes because of the aforementioned necessity for all-the-time creative solutions), most enterprises keep at least a few people or even a group of experts. Try to keep in mind that all your co-workers may be sources of creative solutions, especially when working in interdisciplinary teams.
You should therefore make use of the true value of your company - your employees. Make the working environment creativity-friendly and you won’t have to ask yourself again whether you are creative and innovative enough to be an entrepreneur.