Alex: Hi Sam, thanks for coming along today to talk about creative thinking in the workplace.

Sam: Hiya, thanks for having me.

Alex: So do you want to tell us a bit about what you do, and how creativity plays into that?

Sam: Yeah, sure. So basically I lead a small team at a soft drinks brand. We're constantly under pressure to optimize our work and be more efficient, so I found creativity's really helped us in that area.

It's boosted my team's productivity, and I've seen a real difference in how they tackle challenges and collaborate with each other.

Alex: And how have you got to where you are today?

Sam: Good question. There are a lot of barriers to creative thinking and it's all about changing your mindset.

So… for example, we used to have a strict hierarchy on our team, where those who had more senior positions or had been at the company longer wanted to be in control of everything without much input from other team members.

I was definitely guilty of that. I'm a bit of a perfectionist. You need to learn to let go of the reins a little and let other people find solutions.

Alex: Good advice, but how do you actually do that in practice?

Sam: You have to make an active effort to listen more and ask questions, so you stay curious and open. Don't just assume you have the answer.

And experimenting's important too. So during idea sessions I always tell my team I don't expect us to come up with a perfect idea first time, necessarily.

We try things out, experiment, and improve as we go along. And when we're all in a room together I make sure I'm asking for opinions and input from everyone, not just the confident ones.

Alex: It can be hard for a lot of people to speak up and share ideas, though.

Sam: Definitely, and that applies to leaders too.

Alex: Any tips to feel more confident?

Sam: Well, it depends on what's holding you back. If it's fear of being judged, then leaders are responsible for building psychological safety at work. That's about creating a culture where your team feels safe to share ideas without being frightened of getting things wrong sometimes.

So for example, one of the things I do when I don't agree with what someone said is make sure I'm not dismissive. So I might say something like, “This is the kind of input that will get us where we want to be, even if it's not the solution we'll go with for now.”

You can also be more vulnerable and open about when you've not got it right, or an idea hasn't gone as planned. That shows your team that everybody makes mistakes, and that's OK.

Alex: That's great, but what about building confidence if you're not a leader?

Sam: Well, in that case, practicing idea sharing with someone you trust is helpful. Or agreeing with someone in a meeting and developing it by adding your own opinion, like saying, “Yes, I agree, and we could also do this too.” So you acknowledge someone else's input before adding in your own.

You can also think about how your ideas align with a business goal. When you understand how your idea supports a goal, like improving customer experience or increasing team efficiency, it becomes less about you and more about value. That shift can make it easier to speak up.

Alex: And what about time? Generating new ideas or revisiting old processes takes time, and that's difficult to find.

Sam: For sure. I always plan time for creativity and I hold myself and my team accountable for actually respecting the time we've blocked out, so: no distractions, and notifications off.

Another tip I give is to avoid rushing straight to solving a problem. Allow yourself time to think about the context, ask questions, be curious, and explore different outcomes together.

Alex: That's great stuff. Thanks for joining and sharing your thoughts and tips.

Sam: You're welcome. Thanks for having me.

Interview: Developing a creative mindset

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