By Zach Buckley
While many business owners and operators say that they appreciate employees who possess creativity, workers often feel as if their imagination is stifled while on the job. For individuals who possess the desire to create and innovate, finding an outlet for this creative energy can seem a daunting task. Regardless of whether the job you hold allows you the opportunity to be really creative, there are ways to practice your outside-the-box thinking—exercising your ingenuity both on and off the job.
Enhance Your Skills
Many view creativity as something they naturally possess, not something they need to work to build. Even if you have the natural ability to create and innovate, you shouldn’t discount the usefulness of added training. If you’re constantly doodling, for example, taking a class in computer-aided art or drawing may help you advance beyond the marginal sketches you’re currently creating to more refined works of art. Regardless of the amount of time you have to dedicate to learning, you can make study fit into your schedule. Thanks to advances in information technology, you can likely even take courses online in the area in which you’re most interested, building your skills in a manner that fits into your busy schedule.
Join a Creative Society
Surrounding yourself with others who are creative is a great way to get your creative juices flowing. Seek out a society of individuals who engage in the same creative endeavors that you do. If you love writing, for example, consider joining a professional writing organization. If you love painting or sculpting, become a member of a visual arts association. By joining this group of creatives, you’ll gain access to events where you can further enhance your skill and hone your craft, allowing you to become even better at your art form of choice.
Share your Creative Products
Don’t spend your time lamenting the fact that your boss hasn’t noticed your skills and talents if you haven’t specifically told him of your abilities. It’s wise to share with your supervisor ways in which you feel you could help the company, even if these things fall outside of your current job duties. If, for example, you’re skilled at creating promotional videos using technology, tell your supervisor about this ability and explain how you could use this skill to help the business. Even if she doesn’t immediately take you up on your offer, she’ll likely keep this skill in mind and may come to you in the future for assistance with a task for which your creativity makes you well suited.
Seek Outside Outlets for Your Work
Exercise your creativity—and pick up some extra cash—by using your skills to work as a freelancer. Whether you work with private clients or through a freelancing firm, you can put your natural creativity to work even if your current job doesn’t afford you the ability to do so. Market yourself to local businesses that may be in need of your services, or sign up with a freelancing website to accept jobs from clients across the country. Because freelancers can work on completing their projects any time of day or night, you can make this type of work fit into even the busiest of schedules.
For many individuals who possess natural creativity, the desire to be innovative is strong and continuous. Instead of constantly stifling your creativity and plugging away at your job, create opportunities for yourself to exercise this desire to create. In doing so, you can potentially distinguish yourself on the job and certainly feed your need to generate new and original ideas and designs.
Zach Buckley is a freelance writer who is interested in exploring the intersection of culture, science and education. He lives in the Midwest and enjoys music, literature and good food.