by Effie Moore Salem

Created on: October 12, 2009   Last Updated: August 31, 2010

Creativity is what separates the business world; some have it and some do not. Walk into showrooms and you can spot creativity over the same old general run of businesses anytime. They have that something different looks that say those who work here are not only effective but are having a good time at it. That difference is creativity. It is seen everywhere. In the furnishings, in the way you are greeted, in the way that certain sales person makes you feel as if they've known you for years. How does creativity work in a business?

First of all, it has to have creative leadership. This leadership is the same whether it is a one or two person operation or a huge place with several thousand employees. The leader sets the tone and hires creative people and it catches on. Every effort in these larger operations is to use every person to their best ability. In other words fitting each job to the employee that can most creatively fill it is the aim.

The task of finding capable employees seems like a daunting one and it is at first. Yet when negativity and boredom is not allowed, a more positive atmosphere will develop. Jobs are important and people are important and when both are seen as important, the first hurdle of creativity in the workplace has been overcome. Depending on the type of business, fitting the overall theme of the lobby or entrance or first look to fit a creative concept is important. It is like a breath of fresh air to a harried person looking for that particular pair of shoes, birthday cake, visits with a doctor or travel agency. They want to know immediately they are in the right place.

The idea here is to put the prospective consumer at ease. When customers feel welcome and are at ease and worry free, they are better customers and they keep coming back. People like change and they embrace it in workplaces and in stores and in the overall look of things, but internally, they like the reactions of humans to be welcoming and friendly and unchanging. This takes creative employees. A creative workplace is uncluttered, clean, and the tone of the conversation is upbeat and uplifting and gossip and backbiting is forbidden. While creative workplaces may not be decorated in the latest fashion, they will be comfortable and bright and people oriented. The air will be cool and circulating and comforting. Where needed, fresh flowers and a bowls of fruit and snacks for employees will be provided. Their physical needs such as breaks and adequate dinner time will be given.

Without the consumer, there would be no need for all the fuss and bother, therefore the first consideration is given to them. What purpose does the business place serve? Is this nearing the one hundred percent purpose or is it lingering far behind. If this is a doctor's office, are patients being seen on time and are they being adequately cared for. Do they have to sit in waiting rooms for hours because of over scheduling?

If the business is a grocery store and many others are clustered about, how creative is that? Is there a sufficient reason to locate that business where it located or would it be better in some other place? How about downtown sections that are generally lacking in grocery stores although there are apartments and people living there that cannot walk to a store? These are all creative business concerns. Creativity, of course is beauty, but it is functionality, and it is being in the right place at the right time and doing the job the owner intended to do. How creative and how beautiful is that?

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