How Can You Dispel Common Misconceptions About Workplace Creativity?
Unlock the secrets to fostering creativity in the workplace with insights from top industry leaders. In this article, MDs and CEOs share their proven strategies for dispelling common misconceptions about creativity. You’ll discover how to build on proven ideas and, ultimately, how to combine existing solutions creatively. With a total of nine expert insights, prepare to revolutionize your approach to workplace innovation.
- Build on Proven Ideas
- Start With Constraints
- Treat Creativity as Discipline
- Unleash Structured Creativity
- Foster Inclusive Idea Contribution
- Use Strategic Problem-Solving
- View Creativity as Practical Solutions
- Develop Creativity Through Collaboration
- Combine Existing Solutions Creatively
Build on Proven Ideas
We encourage building on proven ideas to counter the misconception that creativity requires constant originality. We often revisit previous campaigns that performed well, then adapt and evolve them to suit new trends or platforms. For instance, a successful social media ad may be updated with fresh visuals or messaging rather than reinventing the entire concept. This shows that creativity doesn’t always have to mean starting from scratch but can also be about making strategic improvements to existing ideas.
Shane McEvoy
MD, Flycast Media
Start With Constraints
Creativity isn’t about ideas; it’s about process.
Most people think creativity is some magical spark that strikes without warning, but in product innovation, creativity thrives on structure. It’s the ability to design repeatable processes that surface insights and lead to breakthroughs.
One way to shift that mindset is to start every brainstorming session with constraints.
When we launched a new feature, the team felt overwhelmed with options. Instead of “blue-sky” brainstorming, we introduced a rule: every idea had to solve a specific user pain point in under three steps.
The result? More focused discussions, faster iterations, and solutions that aligned with real customer needs. Creativity didn’t feel random—it felt like progress.
Structure isn’t the enemy of creativity—it’s the fuel for it.
Matt Hunckler
CEO, Powderkeg
Treat Creativity as Discipline
To dispel workplace creativity myths, treat it as a disciplined practice, not an elusive gift. Implement cross-functional brainstorming sessions with clear objectives and constraints. This shows innovation thrives within boundaries, not chaos.
Document the iterative process behind successful projects. Highlight false starts, pivots, and incremental improvements. This reveals creativity as persistent problem-solving, not sporadic “eureka” moments.
Introduce mind mapping or forced connections to solve problems. These methods prove creative thinking can be systematically applied across all roles. Celebrate and analyze successes and failures equally. This reinforces creativity as a skill honed through experimentation and learning.
Presenting creativity as a learnable, measurable process challenges the notion it’s confined to certain individuals or departments. This empowers all employees to contribute innovative ideas and solutions.
Sam Bahreini
Founder & CEO, Konstellate
Unleash Structured Creativity
Real-time brainstorming can transform how teams approach creativity by showing that it thrives not in chaos, but in structure. Schedule sessions where everyone participates in timed rounds of idea-generation. This keeps the energy high and ensures each voice gets heard. For example, use a technique like the “6-3-5 Method,” where six participants write down three ideas every five minutes. This method helps maintain focus and avoids the trap of unstructured, endless discussions that often lead nowhere.
Set clear goals and boundaries for each session. Emphasize that structure doesn’t limit creativity but channels it effectively. Encourage participants to build on each other’s ideas through techniques like forced connections, where unrelated concepts must be linked to form new ideas. This not only busts the myth that creativity is random but also fosters a culture of innovation where everyone learns that organized approaches can yield unexpected, brilliant outcomes.
Will Yang
Head of Growth & Marketing, Instrumentl
Foster Inclusive Idea Contribution
One effective way to dispel the myth that creativity is an innate talent reserved for a select few is by fostering a culture where ideas from all team members are valued. Innovation isn’t restricted to certain roles; it thrives when everyone is encouraged to contribute unique perspectives. By emphasizing that creativity is a skill that can be developed through practice and curiosity, we can create a more inclusive environment where every employee feels empowered to think creatively.
For instance, implementing regular brainstorming sessions where every voice is heard, reinforces the idea that creativity is a collective resource. Tools like idea-boards and collaborative platforms encourage cross-departmental participation, showing that everyone can be part of the creative process. It’s less about sudden “aha” moments and more about gradual, iterative progress, which often leads to the most impactful innovations.
Moreover, providing resources for learning and experimentation can foster creative thinking. Workshops, guest speakers, and even small skill-building exercises demonstrate that creativity can be nurtured. This reframing helps team members realize that creativity is a dynamic process, one that improves through openness, collaboration, and a willingness to challenge the norm.
Azam Mohamed Nisamdeen
Founder, Convert Chat
Use Strategic Problem-Solving
Creativity at work isn’t just about waiting for a “lightbulb moment.” It’s about using structured approaches to tackle challenges effectively. Hosting “Creativity Myths Debunked” workshops can transform how teams think about innovation. These sessions clarify that creativity stems from methodical problem-solving techniques, not random flashes of inspiration. Discuss approaches like brainstorming, where diverse ideas are generated without judgment, fostering a pool of potential solutions. Introduce reverse thinking, where staff look at problems from an inverted perspective to uncover unexpected insights.
Highlight practical methodologies like SCAMPER, which stands for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Rearrange. SCAMPER offers a framework for examining existing products or processes, stimulating creative adaptation and improvement. Encourage participants to practice these techniques on real workplace issues, which helps embed creative thinking into everyday tasks. Making creativity tangible through structured approaches like SCAMPER dismantles the myth of creativity as unattainable genius, proving it is an accessible, essential skill for everyone.
Chris Roy
Product and Marketing Director, Reclaim247
View Creativity as Practical Solutions
A big misconception about creativity in the workplace is that it’s all about having “creative” people or big brainstorming sessions. But, in my experience, creativity is more about problem-solving and applying new thinking to everyday challenges. It doesn’t always come from a huge, spontaneous idea. In the electrical industry, for example, you might not expect creativity to play a big role, but it’s essential.
I remember a project where we had to rewire an old commercial building. The client wanted to modernize, but without tearing everything apart. This wasn’t about coming up with some flashy, out-of-the-box concept. It was about creatively finding ways to use the existing infrastructure while still delivering an efficient and safe electrical system. This type of problem-solving shows that creativity is about finding smart, practical solutions to real-world problems—not just artistic ideas. When you start viewing creativity this way, it becomes clear that it’s present in every industry.
Daniel Vasilevski
Director & Owner, Bright Force Electrical
Develop Creativity Through Collaboration
I think creativity should be treated as a concrete skill rather than something individual and ephemeral. I’m a strong believer that creativity can be taught and developed. But I notice that people often treat it as a one-time wonder and think that it is only those with specific predispositions who can be creative. This is simply not true.
Because of this, I try to incorporate creative processes within my team that center around collaboration. I personally know that being creative is not just about waiting until some grand idea pops into my head. It’s about work and brainstorming. That’s why we have brainstorming sessions where we join our forces. We come up with ideas, transform them, and test them until we find the one that works best. This is the only way we can consistently generate authentic content and avoid writer’s block.
Julia Smirnova
Producer, My Drama
Combine Existing Solutions Creatively
In my experience as a product and marketing manager, one prevalent misunderstanding I’ve encountered is the idea that innovative concepts have to be wholly unique.
Probably more than any other myth I’ve observed in product development, this one has inhibited innovation. I made the same mistake when I first started working in this field: I assumed that every new feature or solution had to be revolutionary and unheard-of.
However, I’ve learned a valuable lesson from working with thousands of e-commerce brands and overseeing product management: true innovation rarely means inventing something entirely from scratch.
The real power of this understanding is that it liberates teams from the paralysis of trying to be completely original. Instead of asking, “Has this been done before?” we now ask, “How can we combine existing solutions in new ways to solve our specific problem?”
This shift in mindset has not only accelerated our innovation process but has also led to more practical and effective solutions for our users.
This insight has changed our approach to product development. We concentrate on significant advancements and innovative fusions of tried-and-true ideas rather than striving for the unachievable ideal of total originality.
Being better and more proactive to the needs of our users is more important than being the first.
Michelle Nguyen
Product Owner & Marketing Manager at Uppromote, UpPromote
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