Most managers would assume that creativity in the workplace can thrive without constraints. However, research has shown that the right type of constraints are more important in the workplace rather than having no constraints at all.
What Constraints Influence Creativity?
The constraints that influence creativity have always been a major topic of discussion between literary and academic scholars. While some believe that the need for creativity to flourish comes from extended boundaries and limited constraints; others debate that there is a delicate balance needed between freedom and constraints for creative individuals. The three constraints that influence creativity can be categorized as:
Input Constraints
A curvilinear relationship exists between creativity and constraints. It showed that a moderate amount of pressure had a positive effect on boosting creativity in the workplace. However, even a slight increase in pressure can burnout and cause a negative spiral in creative individuals.
Further, the research also shows that other input constraints in the workplace, such as time constraints in the absence of distractions and resource constraints, could boost creativity rather than hinder it.
Process Constraints
Process constraints are usually perceived as negative constraints in terms of flourishing creative individuals. Most extant research argues that creativity requires a certain level of autonomy.
In March-April 2021, Dale Carnegie Training conducted a survey of over 5000 employees across 16 geographical locations as a method of understanding what constraints influence creativity.
The survey showed that one of the major factors that contributed to creativity was the process. In fact, 82% of respondents to the survey said that while there may be creative individuals within the organization, the supportive environment of the company helped nurture this innate creativity and further transform it into innovation.
This means that while process constraints may take away some of the autonomy from creative individuals; if the organizational processes withhold criticism, and allow space to generate many ideas, build on said ideas, and welcome out-of-the-box ideas, process constraints allow for the flourishing of creative individuals.
Output Constraints
Output constraints refer to the standards to which the creative process must conform. While a rulebook of standards might easily look like a hindrance, a deeper dive into the constraints show that the need to conform to specific standards requires out-of-the-box thinking.
Output constraints affect the intrinsic motivation of the creative individual. The need to conform to a certain standard while also being authentic to his/her creative thinking creates a unique challenge to be resolved using extraordinary solutions. This constant need affects intrinsic motivation and therefore will increase the standard of creativity for the individual as well as the organization.
How Can These Constraints Be Leveraged to Influence Creativity?
While there may be constraints such as time, pressure, or resources on creative individuals, having a supportive organization-wide culture can boost creativity than hinder it.
Having a supportive culture would mean that there are safe spaces for creative individuals to flourish and thrive in. A supportive culture means that the creative individual’s needs are heard and their values or ideas are accepted. There are limited constraints on innovative ideas and more acceptance of ideas that potentially are out-of-the-box. These values further bolster intrinsic motivation, helping creativity thrive despite the constraints of time, pressure, or resources.
The Bottom Line
Constraints foster creativity. While it may be straightforward to think that creativity requires freedom; it is more true that constraints foster creativity. Input, process, and output are major constraints to creativity. A slight deficit in any of these three constraints will boost creativity within a workplace.
However, it is important to also build a supportive organizational culture that enforces intrinsic motivations for the creative individual. Thus, the right constraints in the workplace are cause for creative solutions. That is the recipe for creative success. To know more about how Dale Carnegie Training can help you develop creativity in your people, teams, and organization, contact your local Dale Carnegie office today. Please go to: https://bit.ly/3d15Uge