How long have you been employed? 1 year, 5 years, or a decade? And until now, how many times have you been promoted? Did you have to go back into the memory lane to think of when was the last time you were appreciated, recognized, or let alone promoted at your work? Or, how many times were you promised a promotion, and are still waiting for it?
Now extend that thought beyond the workplace — how often in life have your efforts gone unnoticed, your contributions unacknowledged, or your value underestimated? Whether in your career, relationships, or personal goals, the feeling of being overlooked is much more common than we like to admit.
Not to drag you into despair and hopelessness, but let’s address the issue directly—if you’ve experienced this yourself, where exactly does the problem lie? It’s not that you’re not working hard enough. You may even work harder than those above you, so why does this problem still happen? Sometimes, hard work alone isn’t enough to keep pace with a constantly changing world. Especially in the corporate world, where everything is evolving within hours, what should we do to keep up?
Unleashing Creativity in Problem-Solving and Innovation
First and foremost, in today’s fast-paced workplace, just doing your job well isn’t the sole driving factor of success. The real game-changer is creativity—the ability to solve problems in fresh ways and drive innovation that sets you apart. But how do you unlock that creative potential and apply it effectively in your career? Creativity is the driving force behind problem-solving and innovation. Whether you’re developing a new product, solving a complex issue, or improving a process, creative thinking can lead to breakthrough results. In today’s fast-changing world, the ability to think creatively and act on new ideas is more important than ever.
Today, we will focus on the importance of creativity in professional surroundings, as described in Harvey’s Book, “THE 7C’S 21ST CENTURY SKILLS THAT TRANSFORM.” Undoubtedly, the book serves as a Workplace success book that might help you overcome the obstacles you’re facing. Creativity is the first step in innovation. It’s what allows individuals and companies to move beyond the status quo and imagine what’s possible.
How Creative Thinking Fuels Innovation: 4 Practical Approaches
Harvey discusses that creativity is not limited to artistic expression—painting, writing, or performing. However, it is a far broader skill that extends across all areas of life and work. It not only fuels problem-solving but also engenders innovation. The author further emphasizes that creativity in professional growth is indispensable, as it doesn’t just solve problems —it demonstrates one’s resilience and aptitude and also helps in staying relevant. Nevertheless, even when we have the ideas, we often do not know how to execute them.
Henceforth, the author provides various ways to enhance your creativity. Michael suggests that creativity is a powerful personal development skill that, if mastered, can catalyze your professional growth. Creativity can manifest in small habits, manageable ways. For instance, it’s in the way you rethink a process at work. It’s in how a team solves a problem no one saw coming. With the help of some strategic and consistent habits, you can surely build that creative instinct in yourself, too. Let’s have a look at them.
Brainstorming and Divergent Thinking
The goal isn’t to come up with “the right answer” immediately. Brainstorming encourages divergent thinking, allowing us to generate as many ideas as possible and subsequently choose the best of them. Moreover, another driving factor in brainstorming is thinking outside the box; you will have to allow yourself to go wild and think as far as possible without fearing judgment. Who knows, encouraging and welcoming off-trial, “out of the box” ideas might lead to a breakthrough.
Mind mapping
A problem well stated is a problem half solved
As said earlier, creativity cannot turn into innovation if it is not executed well. No matter how creative or groundbreaking an idea is, if you fail to bring it to life effectively, it’s of no use. And when so many ideas are stuck in your head, it becomes difficult to connect them into something ingenious. This is where mind mapping comes in handy; it is like a roadmap that ultimately leads you to the end treasure. Therefore, by organizing your thoughts visually, mind mapping not only clears mental clutter but also transforms scattered ideas into actionable innovation.
Challenging norms
It is the part that we always overlook. With the fear of being judged, we often comply with what is already present, which is quite the contrary of creativity. Thus, no matter your job description —whether you are a junior executive or the Chief Executive —always question the status quo. Better solutions often come from challenging what already exists. Stay curious and open-minded. Creative thinking means seeing value where others might not. Actual progress rarely begins with agreement; it starts with curiosity — with asking ‘why?
Crossing Disciplinary Lines
This idea ties directly into brainstorming — the process of generating fresh ideas. To make the most of it, we must involve diverse perspectives. Collaboration is a powerful force for professional growth. When different minds come together, they fill in the gaps we might overlook on our own, ultimately completing the bigger picture. It’s like a painting brought to life through varied brushstrokes, each technique adding depth, color, and character to the final masterpiece.
Conclusion
To sum up everything that has been stated so far, creativity is an iterative process—you refine and improve as you go. Not all creative breakthroughs happen by design. Sometimes, they come by accident, and the key is being open to unexpected outcomes. Nevertheless, given the clarity and depth with which it presents key concepts, book by author Michael Hugh Harvey can undoubtedly be considered the ultimate workplace success book.
