industry thoughts from Clarteza

In the dynamic pace of today’s business environment, innovation is no longer optional—it’s essential. Companies that embrace fresh perspectives, celebrate creativity, and promote calculated risk-taking are the ones that excel. But what enables creativity to flourish in the workplace? The key lies in psychological safety—creating an environment where individuals feel empowered to voice ideas, explore unconventional approaches, and learn from mistakes without fear of judgment. This culture serves as the foundation for the innovation that fuels growth and success.

Amy Blankson, renowned author, keynote speaker and Forbes contributor recently sat down with Mag Retelewski, an innovation strategist and a founder of Clarteza, to explore how we can cultivate creativity and innovation in the workplace. Mag shared in her Forbes interview invaluable insights on how to tap into our creative potential, especially in environments that often prioritize performance over exploration.

She and her team conduct Innovation by Design Workshops where they leverage psychology, neuroscience and creative expression to unlock creativity and innovation. One key takeaway from the conversation? The importance of psychological safety and bringing our whole selves into the process demonstrating that our full, authentic selves are often the catalyst for true innovation.

Here are the 4 strategies to become more creative and therefore a better problem solver.

1. Expand Your Knowledge Library

Think of your brain as a vast library—every experience, piece of knowledge, and skill you acquire is like adding a new book to your collection. The most creative individuals tend to have the largest, most diverse libraries because they pull from a broad range of experiences to solve problems in new ways. There is another aspect of expanding your knowledge library, and that is novelty. Our brains thrive on new experiences and learning, even when they initially feel uncomfortable at first, as novelty stimulates curiosity and fosters personal growth.

2. Play with Ideas: Embrace Divergence

Creativity thrives when we give ourselves permission to experiment. Too often, we lock ourselves into rigid ways of thinking and try to find the “right” answer too quickly. But true innovation happens when we explore multiple possibilities.

Mag encourages you to embrace divergent thinking—the practice of allowing yourself to generate a wide range of solutions without immediately worrying about their feasibility. To foster this mindset, you need to be in a positive, open-minded state. Skepticism is healthy, but cynicism limits possibilities. Allowing yourself to entertain outlandish ideas can often lead to the most unexpected, yet feasible solutions. The goal is not to find the perfect solution immediately, but to expand your thinking and see where it takes you.

3. Convergent Thinking: Harness Focused Effort

While divergent thinking—exploring multiple ideas—is crucial, convergent thinking is where creativity turns into real action. This involves narrowing down and refining ideas to find the best solutions.

Convergent thinking is about refining your ideas, building them step by step, and pushing through mental resistance. By following the design thinking approach and making small iterative changes, you gradually refine and build those ideas. The process, at times, can be uncomfortable, but it’s essential for creating something truly innovative.

4. Bringing Your Whole Self to Work

One of the most powerful ways to unlock creativity is by bringing your full, authentic self to work. We often feel we must compartmentalize our personal and professional lives, adopting a “professional” persona at work. However, the integration of our passions, experiences, and personal interests into our professional lives can fuel innovation.

The Takeaway

Psychological safety—the belief that it’s okay to take risks, make mistakes, and try new things—is the foundation for unlocking creativity. Creativity is a skill that anyone can develop, whether you’re an engineer, marketer, or leader. By expanding your knowledge base, embracing divergent thinking, and pushing through the discomfort of convergent thinking, you tap into your full creative potential.

To read the full Forbes article click here