I thought some of you might like this...it's a tongue-in-cheek approach to help people understand the importance of creativity in the workplace. Hope you enjoy!
These days, time is money.
And while many companies are encouraging creativity in the workplace because they know it will have a positive long-term effect on their bottom lines, other companies are simply tightening their belts and asking employees to work longer and harder than ever.
If you subscribe to the latter philosophy, then here are 11 surefire ways you can douse that pesky creative revolution once and for all.
1. Whenever a creative thinker offers an innovative idea, look at them like you smell dog poo. This will signal to everyone how much you value creativity in the workplace, and should go a long way toward eliminating it altogether. In fact, be sure to belittle anyone who looks even slightly artistic. They might give your company a reputation for diversity and creativity.
2. Reward sameness. Hire people with the right “look” who will impress clients with their excellent choice of suits and ties (or pantsuits), the whiteness of their shirts, and their MBAs. Clients may think you’re as boring as heck after awhile, but at least they won’t think you’re different from the rest of the suits.
3. Never think outside the box. It’s much, much safer inside where it’s nice and warm. Of course, you’ll have to be prepared to grow your company very slowly (if at all) and watch other more innovative companies pass you by.
4. Never, ever encourage curiosity or questions! This may lead to innovation (see #3).
5. Along the same lines, always discourage play. Play leads to having fun, and having fun will make people enjoy coming to work. And who knows where that might lead! Perhaps to more creativity in the workplace.
6. Maintain a “your-butt-is-mine-if-this-doesn’t-work” mentality. This absolutely ensures that your people will keep their heads down and just do their jobs.
7. Have lots of unnecessary meetings with strict agendas and lots of charts and graphs. If the agenda doesn’t discourage discussion, then the charts and graphs should confuse everyone into silence.
8. Above all, never hold a brainstorming session! These are notorious for producing creative ideas and encouraging creativity in the workplace!
9. If anyone in your organization suggests a retreat or any team-building activities, tell them in no uncertain terms to pack up and get out. These foster camaraderie and increase our comfort levels with each other, which set the stage for creative thinking.
10. Install rows and rows of cubicles that all look the same, and don’t let your people personalize them with pictures or toys.
11. Do not attend (or cause anyone to attend) any creative thinking seminars, or read any books on creativity, creativity in the workplace, or creative problem solving. In fact, fire on the spot anyone who even suggests this!
So, there you have it…11 things you can do to guarantee any creativity in the workplace is beaten to a pulp before it has time to take root and grow. After all, you wouldn’t want to have to deal with all those messy profits, now, would you?
(If you’d like to read nine more ways to head creativity in the workplace off at the pass, go to my website at www.businessburrito.com and click on the “Creative Thinking” link. The article link is toward the bottom of the page.)
These days, time is money.
And while many companies are encouraging creativity in the workplace because they know it will have a positive long-term effect on their bottom lines, other companies are simply tightening their belts and asking employees to work longer and harder than ever.
If you subscribe to the latter philosophy, then here are 11 surefire ways you can douse that pesky creative revolution once and for all.
1. Whenever a creative thinker offers an innovative idea, look at them like you smell dog poo. This will signal to everyone how much you value creativity in the workplace, and should go a long way toward eliminating it altogether. In fact, be sure to belittle anyone who looks even slightly artistic. They might give your company a reputation for diversity and creativity.
2. Reward sameness. Hire people with the right “look” who will impress clients with their excellent choice of suits and ties (or pantsuits), the whiteness of their shirts, and their MBAs. Clients may think you’re as boring as heck after awhile, but at least they won’t think you’re different from the rest of the suits.
3. Never think outside the box. It’s much, much safer inside where it’s nice and warm. Of course, you’ll have to be prepared to grow your company very slowly (if at all) and watch other more innovative companies pass you by.
4. Never, ever encourage curiosity or questions! This may lead to innovation (see #3).
5. Along the same lines, always discourage play. Play leads to having fun, and having fun will make people enjoy coming to work. And who knows where that might lead! Perhaps to more creativity in the workplace.
6. Maintain a “your-butt-is-mine-if-this-doesn’t-work” mentality. This absolutely ensures that your people will keep their heads down and just do their jobs.
7. Have lots of unnecessary meetings with strict agendas and lots of charts and graphs. If the agenda doesn’t discourage discussion, then the charts and graphs should confuse everyone into silence.
8. Above all, never hold a brainstorming session! These are notorious for producing creative ideas and encouraging creativity in the workplace!
9. If anyone in your organization suggests a retreat or any team-building activities, tell them in no uncertain terms to pack up and get out. These foster camaraderie and increase our comfort levels with each other, which set the stage for creative thinking.
10. Install rows and rows of cubicles that all look the same, and don’t let your people personalize them with pictures or toys.
11. Do not attend (or cause anyone to attend) any creative thinking seminars, or read any books on creativity, creativity in the workplace, or creative problem solving. In fact, fire on the spot anyone who even suggests this!
So, there you have it…11 things you can do to guarantee any creativity in the workplace is beaten to a pulp before it has time to take root and grow. After all, you wouldn’t want to have to deal with all those messy profits, now, would you?
(If you’d like to read nine more ways to head creativity in the workplace off at the pass, go to my website at www.businessburrito.com and click on the “Creative Thinking” link. The article link is toward the bottom of the page.)
