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MyStartr Skills Ladder: Creativity and Problem-Solving
February 09, 2023 .3 minute read
What is it?
We tend to think of creativity in terms of music, painting, literature and other forms of art. But in fact we’re all creative in a more fundamental way: how we use insights to identify a problem and innovative thinking to solve it. Preparing a meal, for instance, is a creative solution to the problem of being hungry. Building a house, whether it’s a lean-to or an architectural landmark, is a creative solution to the problem of needing shelter. Creative problem-solving underlies much of what humans do, whether we’re tackling everyday tasks or meeting the big global challenges.
What does it mean in the workplace?
To be a creative problem-solver at work, you need to take all the other strengths we’ve covered in the Skills Ladder and turn them into innovative action. If you’re confident, understand your organization’s goals, know your team and share work in ways that let everyone bring their best, you’ll help create smart, effective and lasting solutions.
It could be a quick fix to an unexpected glitch — like letting customers know the ice cream machine is broken, while someone calls a repair service. Or it may be a longer-term improvement, like adjusting shifts to match transit schedules or finding ways to recycle more waste. Large-scale or small, creativity is highly valued by employers, because it empowers everyone in the organization to find solutions that contribute to overall progress.
How do employers talk about creativity?
• “Innovative thinker”
• “Resourceful self-starter”
• “Independent problem-solver”
