Dale Stohr Innovation #3 Inventium 2009

Innovation Seminar #3 Inventium - Amantha Imber

Creative thinking in most workplaces is probably not a usual part of the day, excluding advertising, the arts, movies and TV or designing video games. Many corporations have policies and procedures in place to maximise productivity and basically stick to the rules. To even question the way a company operates may not always be a good idea for an enthusiastic employee. But for companies to grow and innovate, creative thinking is a key element that has been previously under-utilised in Australian business.

There are many ways to introduce creative thinking techniques into the workplace. Some are simple while others may take time to develop. By encouraging creative thinking in the workplace, employees and employers can benefit from many positive ideas. While not all ideas may be implemented, simply starting the creative thinking process at work can have immediate positive impacts on the business that would not have occurred previously.

Some techniques for creative thinking in the workplace include:

1. Open Mind

The famous quote from Lord Thomas Dewar 'Minds are like parachutes. They work best when open' can be applied to creative thinking in the workplace. By being curious and interested in their surroundings, an employee can look for ways to improve their work or suggest new ways of doing things. A supportive employer could encourage people having an open mind with small rewards or incentives for new ideas. Sometimes the motivation is simply the recognition that a person's new idea works and can be implemented for all to see.

2. Reading

By reading books, magazines, web sites, blogs and newspapers, a person can utilise the thoughts and learnings of many people in a short amount of time. Daily routines of reading one newspaper and one news website can provide links to numerous ideas that may apply in the workplace. Over time, reading news articles can lead to the formation of ideas that fit the workplace or identify opportunities that have worked elsewhere. Copying ideas from one industry and implementing them in another is one benefit that comes from extensive reading.

3. Think Tanks

The use of a Think Tank in the workplace provides a regular venue for the discussion of new ideas and innovations. For example, a Think Tank can be a meeting held every Tuesday afternoon between 5:00pm - 6:00pm where all team members present one idea/innovation to the group for consultation. There is no right or wrong judgement made - just a sharing of opinions and suggestions. Like a brainstorming session, a Think Tank can provide a wide range of views that may lead the organisation in a totally new direction. The success of the Think Tank is only limited by the input from individuals and their level of participation.

4. New Rules

Most large organisations have extensive policies and procedures to ensure compliance with current and old company rules. By deliberately questioning key organisational procedures or strategies, a whole new range of options may develop. Famous American inventor Thomas Edison once said, 'If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astonish ourselves'. By stepping outside the organisation and re-examining the current status quo, different ways of thinking can transform a workplace from the old ways to the new and innovative.


Companies like Inventium help stimulate creativity while major innovative companies like Apple, Google and Nokia are already using creative thinking with their people. In order for more Australian businesses to succeed locally and internationally, creative thinking will need a greater focus and support from management and the investment community. In the meantime, creative competitors keep on innovating and attracting the attention and dollars of satisfied customers.