“I never made one of my discoveries through the process of rational thinking”
– Albert Einstein
Building a modern business requires grit and a great deal of creativity. Marketing a new product, or creating items or services consumers want, beckons the entrepreneur to expand and abandon traditional business models. Giant companies like Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Tesla etc, prove a creative and ever evolving business model conquers competition, drives sales, and increases consumer loyalty.
So what’s the big deal about Creativity in Business and Why does It Matter?
The simple answer – Your Success in business counts on creative thinking
Fact is, we are living in times where companies are facing major disruptions in their markets and managers are forced to respond strategically in order to remain competitive. According to a study conducted by IBM CEOs “believe that — more than rigor, management discipline, integrity or even vision — successfully navigating an increasing complex world will require creativity.”
Another study conducted by Forrester Consulting and Adobe also found direct correlation between a entrepreneur’s ability to create new ways to engage the market, and the success of their companies. Over half of the companies surveyed in the study showed revenue growth due to enhanced creative practices—such as hiring interesting and unorthodox employees who foster innovation, increase brand recognition, and inspire methods of production and delivery never tried before.
“Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things.”
— Theodore Levitt
Good Leadership Fosters Creativity –
When it comes to problem solving, creativity and leadership can have a huge effect on the performance of a company in various. Modern company leaders who allow freedom and creativity within their workforce see incredible dividends down the road. The most successful example, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, created Amazon in 1994 with the mantra and philosophy: “Its easier to invent the future than to predict it.” That one line says it all. Creativity in the modern era makes or breaks companies. Small business owner’s ability to diversify ideas, products, and marketing techniques determines their success rate and bottom line. But, as Amazon proves, even well established companies use evolutionary creative business models to continue to maintain and increase their market placement.
Where do we go from here?
The simple lesson: While ancient marketing, production, and branding methods still generate revenue, business creativity flourishes success and helps avoid stagnation which leads to the dreaded going out of business.
Further reading on importance of creativity in business
–How Senior Executives Find Time to Be Creative- (Harvard Business Review)
-Your Team Is Brainstorming All Wrong- (Harvard Business Review)
-Leading others to think innovatively together: Creative leadership (The Leadership Quarterly-ScienceDirect)
“Creativity takes courage. ” ― Henri Matisse
Creativity takes courage.