Inspiring and fostering creativity when managing a remote team all begins with the working relationship that has been established between employer and employee. Creativity is something that is found, not worked for. It is a characteristic, and not a tangible thing that someone can simply grasp one day and be dubbed “creative”. Creative work is a matter of stepping out of one’s comfort zone. This means being less secluded and more outgoing, testing norms, and operating outside of traditional expectations.
In order to accomplish such daunting tasks, one needs free reign. There is nothing worse for the production of a creative team than being tied down to standards. Creativity is found when one has the freedom to think freely. It is the responsibility of the employer, when trying to inspire and foster creativity, to allow an employee to be themselves. This all starts with a solid and trustworthy working relationship. So, how do we build these relationships?
1. Team Building
In the words of innovator Henry Ford: “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” Team building is the best exercise to foster working relationships, which in turn will lead to trust, which will lead to an influx in the output of creativity.
Coming together is where the process starts. Show interest in developing working relationships with your employees. This will initiate trust. Then, staying together and developing a history fully of fond memories. That’s how relationships are developed. Working together, and relying on that trust which has been cultivated, is when people begin to express their true creative selves.
Creativity is truth. Passion is apparent. Writers, for instance, shine light on their innermost thoughts and perceptions and put them on paper. The more truthful the content, the more relatable it becomes. This is how writers become successful. The same rings true for a creative in any field. As an employer, your job is to create a relationship of trust between you and your employee(s). When an employee trusts you, they will likely be more open with you and trust you to foster their creativity. This is how creativity is inspired!
2. One-On-One Time
It is important in any relationship to dedicate time to having one-on-one conversations with the other person. One-on-one conversations are the best way to get to know someone on a personal level. This can be simplified even further to: “Hey, want to get a drink?” Which essentially means: I’d enjoy spending time with you. This is an important message to establish with your employees because it makes them feel valued. No one wants to be a cog in the machine.
When someone feels valued by another, the feeling can only be reciprocated. When an employee values you as a leader they will go the extra mile for you. Communicating that you appreciate your employees, enjoy their presence, and value them as people and not simply as contributors is the best way to encourage a workspace where employees will feel more free to be creative.
3. Rewarding Creativity
Rewarding someone’s efforts to step out of their comfort zone is a great way to foster creativity. A reward can be as simple as recognizing someone’s efforts to expand their comfort zone. When this is done, an employee will test their boundaries even further. For example, have you ever been proud of an accomplishment, major or minor, and the only response you’ve received is immediate dismissal? It is a terrible feeling to step out of your comfort zone and feel as though it was a waste of time—or nothing but negativity came out of it. Recognizing someone’s effort to express themselves is a great way to ensure that it continues, especially in the workplace.
Remote workplaces have their ups and downs in terms of their effect on a company or business, especially in regards to creative output. This is why it is important to maintain company culture and cultivate relationships. The culture of a company is defined by the individual employee and how strong they believe their relationships within the company are. This is why recognizing hard work and creativity and rewarding it are so important because, again, this establishes a sense of value in your employees.
As your remote team grows, reward them! Imagine an NBA Finals with no trophy or banner; it kind of defeats the purpose. The same rings true in the workplace. When hard work and creativity are recognized, it repeats the cycle in that this recognition inspires workers to continue down the path that garnered success in the first place. When you invest in and appreciate your employees, they’ll return the favor with more creative, innovative work. However, you have to give employees permission to express their creativity, then reward it.
Where Do I Start?
Establish a cycle. Inspire, foster, reward, repeat. It is also important to be flexible when allocating time to connect with team members. Creative work is a result of trusting oneself to perform outside of their comfort zone. This begins with inspiration. It is crucial to inspire innovative work and ensure that your team members feel excited to test their creative limits, rather than frightened. Fostering creative work in those who are working remotely is essentially like watering a plant; you want to nurture your employees to the point where they feel that they have someone that they can rely on in times of stress or creative blocks. If a plant isn’t getting enough light, move it closer to the sun and watch it grow.
If you are wondering how to get started, or what services may be available that will help you create the setting for a more creative remote workplace, check us out at TriviaHub! Over 7,000 companies including Google, Facebook, Target, and more rely on us to cultivate an atmosphere of trust within the workplace, while having some fun along the way.
From team building to major holiday celebrations, we’ve got you covered! Contact us today to learn more about how bonding with your team and encouraging creative work!