“We’ve always done it this way.”

“That’ll never work.”

“If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”

If sayings like this are common in your workplace, your culture might be stifling creativity and innovation.

Is that a problem? If you want to ensure continued growth and success, absolutely! After all, if everyone within your organization continues to do things the same way, year after year, your products, services or processes will soon become outdated – even obsolete.

Don’t get left behind. Use these tips from Exact Staff to foster a culture that encourages employees to “think outside the box” and fuels innovation:

Give employees the freedom they need.

When employees are micromanaged, it sends an unspoken message that their independent thought isn’t valued. Help employees set appropriate goals for their performance. Then, as much as possible, show that you trust them by giving them their freedom. When your team has the flexibility to accomplish tasks as they see fit, they’re generally more satisfied in their work – and may develop even better ways to get things done!

Challenge the status quo.

Teach your employees to ask questions like: “What if we did this differently?” and “How could we improve this?” Encourage workers at all levels to share new ideas, to disagree without being disagreeable and to strive for continual improvement (even when something isn’t “broken”).

Make it okay to fail.

What happens when an employee misses the mark in your organization? To create a culture that supports innovation, outline acceptable parameters for taking calculated risks. And when an employee tries a new idea but fails, don’t punish or reprimand him. Instead, help him learn from the mistake.

Foster a more positive work environment.

Not surprisingly, an oppressive culture stifles creativity. If your culture permits bullying, intimidation or the like, do whatever you can to turn it around. Enlist your biggest “offenders” in developing a more supportive environment that encourages new ways of thinking.

Elevate employees’ thinking.

Inspire your team to spend time each day thinking beyond their own jobs. Hold periodic sessions dedicated to brainstorming, team-building or other thought-provoking activities that spur creative thinking.

Fuel growth and success with a smart staffing strategy.

In addition to developing the right culture, partnering with a leading staffing agency like Exact Staff is a great way to ensure profitable growth.

To develop the best solution for your organization, we invite you to schedule a free workforce consultation with us. Together we can assess your needs, brainstorm options and design creative strategies to help you overcome whatever workforce or hiring challenges you face.