Creativity is no luxury - it's the foundation of survival
- Anja Cappelle
- Apr 10
- 3 min read
Itās simple: if you donāt dare to be creative, you wonāt survive the future.
Blogpost by Lisa van Noorden.
Do you know that feeling? The one where every day feels the same, where you repeat the same steps over and overāand by the end of the week, you think: "Is this it?"Ā You're stuck. Your team is stuck. And those big, innovative ideas you once dreamed of? They're buried under piles of bureaucracy and Excel sheets. Creativity feels like a luxury you canāt afford.
But what if I told you thatās precisely the problem? You're playing it safe. And that doesnāt just drain your energyāit ultimately costs you your place in a world that thrives on change and innovation.
In an office full of spreadsheets and meetings, creative thinking is often treated as an afterthought. But what if the key to real innovation wasnāt on your to-do list, but in how you seeĀ the world?
Thatās what artists do. They break through their own patternsāand thatās exactly what you, as a professional, can learn from them. Because letās be honest: creativity in the workplace is the engine of change. Whether you're stuck in daily routines or searching for your next big breakthrough, adopting an artistās mindset can open new doors. Want to move forward? Then start thinking like they do.
How to Become More Creative in an Office Environment? Think more like an artist!
Office culture is all about certainty. Predictability. Boring. Artists flip that aroundāthey actively seek the unknown and embrace unpredictability. Creative thinking in business means daring to let go of control and surrendering to what might be possible.
But creativity doesnāt happen by accident. It needs space. It requires the courage to make mistakes, to freely associate ideas without rushing to conclusions. You need to think like a painter who has no idea where theyāll end upābut still confidently makes the first brushstroke.
What would that look like in your office? Try walking into a meeting without pre-made solutions and see where the ideas take you.
The Role of Creativity in Innovation
Whatās the difference between a truly innovative company and one stuck in outdated patterns? Creative thinking. Innovation requires the courage to go beyond logical solutions and ask: What if?
Artists are masters at seeing things from completely new angles. Thatās why their work moves usāand why companies so often fall back into the same routines. Encouraging innovation means giving your team that same freedom: space to explore, to fail, and to start again.
Without creativity, thereās no progress. Period.
Thinking Like an Artist: Creative Thinking for Business Innovation
An artist often begins with a blank canvas and no clear planāand thatās their superpower. They embrace the unknown and arenāt confined by rigid rules.
For companies stuck in stagnation, this mindset can be a game-changer. Creative thinking for business innovation means stepping away from the usual approach and leaning into imagination. Donāt think in limitationsāthink in possibilities.
Because when you let go of control and create space for new ideas, something unexpected emergesāsomething others will want to follow.
What Businesses Can Learn from an Artistās Creative Process
Hereās the thing: an artistās creative process is messy, chaotic, and nonlinear. And thatās exactly what businesses often lackāthe freedom to explore.
Corporate creative processes tend to be tightly controlled, which stifles anything truly exciting. Artists donāt begin with a final product in mind. They follow the process, allow ideas to evolve, and refine later.
Businesses can learn from this. Instead of immediately rejecting an idea because itās not yet āfeasible,ā try nurturing it. Test it. Develop it. Like an artist would.
Real innovation doesnāt start with a perfect idea. It starts with the courage to let it grow.
Why Creative Thinking Determines the Future of Innovation
Itās simple: if you donāt dare to be creative, you wonāt survive the future.
Creativity today is no longer a luxuryāitās a necessity. Companies that cling to safe structures will be overtaken by those who dare to experiment. Without guts, thereās no innovation.
Creativity in the workplace isnāt reserved for the lucky fewāitās essential. Only through creative thinking can you continue to evolve and stay ahead in an ever-changing world.
Want to learn how to apply this creative mindset in your organization?
As an expert in creative processes and innovation, Lisa shares how you and your team can learn to think like artists. She challenges you to put creativity at the heart of everything you doāand gives you the tools to make it happen. Take that first step toward an innovative future. Get inspired by one of Lisa's talks!