We all know those people who are naturally creative, but did you know that you could improve your own creativity with a bit of practice? Most industries out there encourage innovation in the workplace. When it comes to this industry, using your imagination is helpful for telling a client’s story in a unique way, pitching ideas to potential businesses, or catching the target audience’s attention with an exciting event. Here are six ways to expand your creativity in the workplace.

1. Write it out.

When brainstorming, there is no such thing as a bad idea. Take some time to put all your ideas on paper and let the ideas flow. Taking creative risks could pay off big time.

2. Ask questions.

Asking yourself questions can lead to the answers you’re looking for. While brainstorming ideas, ask questions like “What about this product is unique?” or “What makes this company stand out from the rest?” One ad agency noticed the wasted space that comes with horizontal videos on Facebook and Twitter. They simply asked, “How can we make use of this additional space?” This led them to a creative way to fill this space.

video source: Ad Agency Barton F. Graf 9000

3. Change your perspective.

Being able to stand out from competitors is vital to catching your audience’s attention, so even the slightest change of perspective could be what you need to set yourself apart from the rest. This could mean thinking in reverse or using a different form of communication. Thinking creatively doesn’t always entail an elaborate idea. Start small!

4. Get feedback

If you feel like you’ve hit a roadblock, talk with your colleagues and see what they can come up with. Collaborating with others offers a fresh point of view you wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. Just the other day, I was coming up with ideas for a multimedia project I’m working on, and I asked Team Focus’s photographer, Bill, what he thought would improve the project. He gave me some ideas that I wouldn’t have thought of if I hadn’t asked him. Teamwork, people! It works.

5. Take care of yourself.

I don’t know about y’all but when I don’t get enough sleep, I’m about as useless as a pot of decaf coffee on a Monday morning. After getting a sufficient amount of sleep, eating some brain food and preparing yourself for the day, you’ll be able to think clearly and efficiently. Studies also show that dimming the lights boosts creativity, so try that out as well!

6. Try new things.

Thomas Jefferson once said, “To get what you’ve never had, you must do what you’ve never done.” And he’s exactly right. Engaging in new activities can help boost your creativity because you’re seeing things you’ve never seen, which essentially leads you to imagine things you’ve never thought. It’s important to recharge your creativity by experiencing new things.

Being able to think outside of the box is an extremely useful skill to possess, especially in a field like marketing and communications, which calls for constant creativity.  Use these tips and let us know if you have more ways to expand your creativity!