In the world of public relations, nothing is more valuable than creativity. It is creativity, after all, that makes the difference between a mediocre campaign and one that creates a household name for the brand it’s representing, and in such a competitive climate, you have to give it your all when getting ahead of the competition.
However, creativity isn’t the easiest thing to inspire. Even the best of us suffer from a lack of inspiration, with many of the greats (Ernest Hemingway, Harper Lee, and David Foster Wallace) struggling with writer’s block. Yet, there are many ways to spark such creativity needed to overcome these challenges.
Creativity is becoming a must-have for all kinds of businesses, but it is crucial to a PR campaign. For ways on how to inspire creativity amongst your employees, consider the following.
The power of a successful brainstorm
Very rarely does a moment of inspiration lead to the solution. Rather, the best ideas come from debate and discussion, which is why company brainstorming is the best way to get the ideas flowing. Use Sage brainstorming techniques to have a successful brainstorm meeting and encourage everyone to join in on the discussion; explain that all opinions are valid and will be listened to. All your employees (including yourself) have something to learn from each other, and it is only through group effort that you can create the ultimate PR campaign for your client.
Be open to alternative ways of working
Chances are, you don’t need your employees to work in the office. The power of the internet, computers, and cloud computing have all transformed the workplace, which is why being open to alternative ways of working can be very beneficial to bolster creativity. Flexible schedules lead to greater productivity and higher employee satisfaction.
When precise punctuality isn’t the focus, your workers will instead have the time and space to come up with innovative ideas. Some flourish early in the morning but flag in the late afternoon, and vice versa. All you need to do is have a quota—log the hours worked—but besides that, allow your employees to choose how they work and where they work (within reason, of course).
Breaks and health for the creative mind
The better the break, the more productive your employee. The same applies to their health – the healthier your employee, the more productive they will be. Productiveness does lead to creativity, but the more important aspect of improving the break room and your benefits is to reduce stress. Stress is a creativity killer, and helping your employees focus on their wellness can help keep their creative juices going. Also encourage your employees to go for 5-minute walks outside if this can help with their creativity.
Make your workplace a sensory experience
You might have heard that routine kills creativity. A flexible work schedule can help alleviate this, but you should also go one step further and make the office a sensory experience. Allow your employees stress or sensory balls to keep their hands occupied while they think. Have plant life, unique artworks, or play interesting and varying music. The more stimulated the brain is by its environment, the more creative it will be. You could even have a room with mood lighting, toys and huge whiteboards with colorful pens.
PR and marketing campaigns require a healthy mix of creative input and strategic tactics
Improving the creativity of your employees can lead to more innovative and exciting PR campaigns, and as a result, provide the results you or your client want to see.
