Creativity has long been crucial to our enjoyment of work, but new research from the University of Jyväskylä underlines just how important it is.  The research finds that creativity isn’t just important to dedicated professions that are involved in innovation, design and traditionally ‘creative’ tasks, but is indeed important for all of us.

“The starting point of our study was that anyone can act creatively at work, and it could even be a desired activity, at least for the experts,” the researchers explain. “Creativity is not dependent only on an individual’s will or the decision to be creative though. Instead, many other factors outside of the individual affect the creative process.”

The authors argue that the key to creativity is learning.  Each problem we’re striving to solve is a process of learning whereby we’re figuring out the best way to identify and then tackle the challenge.  This can happen via so many different ways, from talking to colleagues or searching on Google.

Problem solving

Of course, not all problem solving is creative, and the researchers believe that the solution needs to be clear and understandable such that even non-experts can understand it.

“We cannot talk about creativity until there is an outcome. If the outcome is ‘a mess’ that cannot be understood, the process itself obviously cannot be creative either,” the researchers say. “Also copying the available solution was perceived as producing new problems rather than as solving them.”

The authors urge employers not simply to try and recruit creative people, but to explore the circumstances and frame of mind of employees too.  Factors such as the supervision and culture of the firm are crucial, and employees should be given the freedom to make key decisions about their work, and indeed have flexibility and autonomy in how they schedule and organize their work.

They believe that the importance of creativity in the workplace is only likely to increase, especially as technology takes on more of the more routine aspects of our work.  Understanding how to enable and support creativity among workers is therefore likely to be crucial.

“It is fortunate that there are many kinds of people in the workplace: both inquisitive young people who are used to Googling to find solutions and more experienced employees who are familiar with sparring and guiding others,” the researchers conclude. “When these younger and more experienced practitioners are part of the same team, the possibilities for creative and successful outcomes increase.”