Six Ways to Unleash Incredible Creativity in Any Company

SUMMARY: Motivation, enthusiasm, creativity and innovation are all marks of a burgeoning organization. How can organizational structure influence the culture within your workplace? What is the best way to encourage the development of a positive organizational culture? Is the best way to motivate, inspire creativity and innovation though monetary rewards, or through improved managerial techniques?

Many leaders brag about their businesses running like "well-oiled machines," models of consistency and efficiency. But is this really the most effective way to get the results we want? Or, are consistency and machine-like organizational behaviors actually signs of a company locked into rigid work patterns and suffering from stifled creativity? Having directly managed business units and leadership teams for over three decades, the answer to me is clear: the best and most effective businesses strive to make their organization living systems.

The practical—some might say revolutionary—"living system" theory of business efficiency and effectiveness fundamentally rests upon simple principles. First and foremost, leaders must recognize their organization is like a living, dynamic system. It takes in energy from outside systems, processes this energy and exchanges it. To survive, it must adapt to changes in the environment. Just as human beings react to changes in their world and adapt behavior and plans accordingly, so should a business. The challenge is how to determine if your business is a healthy living system or shackled to a machine-like leadership philosophy.

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