Providing employee ownership is one of the most important ways to satisfy creative cravings and independence. Do not give them too much direction; instead, let your employees know that they are the main owners of the task at hand. That feeling of ‘ownership’ will boost their creativity as they look for new ways to indulge and improve their professional terrain and the attitude will almost always be reflected in their work. Employees with a sense of ownership think of every professional task, no matter how small, as a project worthy of their signature and will make sure the quality of the work they produce lives up to their name.
In this article, the experts at Bayt.com, suggest six ways to keep creativity alive and make employees stick with your company:
1. Challenge them
Copywriters, designers and other creative employees, want a challenge to tickle their right brain. If you aren’t able to present them with the occasional super-challenging project, then they may slip away from your hands. Every one of them will have different likes and dislikes, so it is better that you know right from the start what kind of work your employees are really into, and really good at. Some may love doing campaigns for children and children’s products, while others would rather work on auto campaigns, for example. It all depends on what they like and feel more comfortable doing. Try to cater to all those strengths and preferences and individual needs by diversifying the work as much as you can.
2. Create a welcoming environment
The more creative your office environment, the better your chances at having your employees intellectually stimulated. Have a couple of colorful bean bags where employees can relax and think of ideas while being undisturbed. You could even add a foosball, billiard or a ping-pong table. Studies have repeatedly shown that fun at work increases happiness and creativity and boosts loyalty. Employees at Bayt.com, for example, benefit from a bright, cheerful work environment across our MENA-wide network of offices. They enjoy – among other perks – fun areas, a book club, healthy food and coffee machines, regular team-building activities, and a ‘kind culture’ where values are based on earning the admiration and respect of internal and external communities.
3. Encourage flexitime
Bayt.com research has shown that 43.3 percent of employees in the Middle East claim that they do not have a good work-life balance. Achieving a good work-life balance for your employees could be as simple as altering their work arrangements by enabling more flexibility. These new arrangements could include a work-from-home arrangement, a part-time work arrangement or a flexitime arrangement. Let them decide what works best for them.
4. Give ownership
Providing employee ownership is one of the most important ways to satisfy creative cravings and independence. Do not give them too much direction; instead, let your employees know that they are the main owners of the task at hand. That feeling of ‘ownership’ will boost their creativity as they look for new ways to indulge and improve their professional terrain and the attitude will almost always be reflected in their work. Employees with a sense of ownership think of every professional task, no matter how small, as a project worthy of their signature and will make sure the quality of the work they produce lives up to their name.
5. Try meditation
Focus, calmness, clarity and insight are as important to the creative process as the glamor and stimulation side of things. And amid the bustle of daily life, they are the qualities most easily lost. Calmness and creativity are often closely linked. Your company could get its zen-factor simply by organizing meditation and yoga workshops. You can allot a specific time in the morning where employees get together and meditate in groups. It’s not easy to produce creative work day-in and day-out but if your creative team is at peace, they will be able to ease any artistic anxiety in the process. There are several benefits and your employees should certainly reap the rewards, both in the short and long run.
6. Work less, play more
Many studies have revealed that there is a direct correlation between playfulness and productivity. Employees who enjoy their work are more productive, more loyal and stay with their companies longer. When work is made into something fun, employees are more motivated; they enjoy coming to work every day and give their best. Some ways to encourage fun and games at work would be to put employees in groups and give them weekly lateral thinking quizzes and puzzles to solve. Another way is to measure campaign success and award points for the most successful campaigns.
Implement these ideas today and have your employees’ creativity – and loyalty – shine through!
