"Towards a more creative workforce"

by Rachel Weiss

For businesses to flourish they need people who think creatively. That said, I firmly believe everyone is creative. It's not about being able to draw or sing in tune - it's about doing the things that come naturally to us like telling stories, thinking out of the box, having sudden moments of inspiration.

People who are free to be creative are more productive and innovative. They're not part of the rat race, driven by narrow-minded, preset targets. For me it's always a delight, when I'm surprised by a creative idea from one of my team - one I hadn't even dreamed of!

Here in Perthshire we are surrounded by inspirational scenery and a thriving arts scene. We are fortunate to have two companies on hand to help access the underutilised creativity in ourselves and our employees.

Rowan Consultancy runs workshops on creative living. These are opportunities to explore and experiment using sound and art materials to tap into the "bowl of possibilities" that is within each of us. Within a safe environment, you will be encouraged to focus on your self-awareness and the freedom to express yourself as fully as you wish. You will return to work revitalised, ready to see your job with new eyes. The day includes BrainGym exercises which improve concentration by accessing both halves of the brain. The next Creative Living workshop is on 27th January in Perth.

Jamie Jauncey runs workshops on story-telling at work. From childhood, story-telling comes easily to all of us. During the day you'll discover how creative we can be, and how much we can learn about ourselves, each other and our organisations, through the stories we tell. You'll also learn how the language of stories gives you freedom to speak (and write) more personally and with more imagination - you just can't tell stories in business speak! Stories are very powerful. This day is about using that power to make sure you really connect when you communicate.

These are just two of many approaches to building a more creative workforce. All in their own ways tap into the desire we all have to express ourselves through our work, no matter what types of job we do. Yet so often we find obstacles to being creative. Both these companies set out to help you overcome them. So why not sign up for a workshop, or ask Rowan or Jamie to deliver a course in-house?