Creativity is not only a driver of innovation, it’s also a critical ingredient for long-term success in any field. But it’s hard to tap into creativity on cue.

The good news? There are ways to summon it when you need it most.

As Kathryn Jacob and Sue Unerman note in their Harvard Business Review article, “To Jumpstart Creativity, Try These 8 Prompts,” creativity can be sparked and nurtured with prep and intention. Here’s how.

Prepare

Creativity thrives in the right headspace. Jacob and Unerman recommend reflecting on context-setting questions: Where are we now? Where do we want to go? What are we willing to to do to get there?

Ignite change

When you’re in a rut, try thinking big and breaking rules:

• Exaggerate: Push ideas to their extremes. Imagine solving a problem with unlimited resources or influence. Better yet, how would you hack it.

• Start a revolution: Identify the unspoken norms in your work and challenge them. Flip stereotypes, upend traditions, question assumptions.

Bounce back from burnout

To revitalize after a fallow period:

• Re-express with new language: Change how you frame challenges and positioning. Enliven with a new vocabulary of terms and descriptors.

• Revisit old ideas: Sometimes solutions lie in the past. Find forgotten strategies, add a twist, and adapt them for today.

Refresh and renew

To build on success and stay inspired:

• Identify what’s missing: Look for gaps. Think about what you’re not doing and why. Should you starting doing those things?

• Outthink your competition: Study competitors and looks for ways to offer value and services where they don’t.

Test transformation

When it’s time for bold change:

• 6-week rule: Commit to launching a new initiative in just six weeks. Tight deadlines drive focus and creativity.

• Push until it scares you: Don’t stop at easy solutions. Bold decisions, like reorganizing teams or redefining roles, can lead to real breakthroughs.

Creativity isn’t just about coming up with ideas accidentally—it’s about having the courage to challenge norms, embrace bold experiments, and push boundaries.

Try it, take the leap, and get inspired. There’s creativity and innovation in all of us when we find a way to ignite it.

Have a great week-

John Stevenson

Partner

ClientKudos–Client Success Stories & More

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