Creativity is stifled by corporate conformity. The majority of people have experienced this at one time or another. You’re stuck in an environment that is stifling, where your creativity and personality are suppressed to conform to corporate standards and professional expectations.
How can employees contribute ideas confidently if they are afraid of being challenged, criticized or told off because they feel unsafe?
What if, instead, we encouraged our employees to bring their quirks to work, to be themselves and to stand up for what they believe in? What if individuality was encouraged in the workplace.
The companies that are able to crack this code unlock the next level of creativity, create an innovative and thriving environment, and set themselves apart. Allowing your employees to be themselves is not just a nice thing or luxury. It’s an imperative if you want to be the leader in your field.
It’s not enough to stick a sticker that says “Be yourself” on the wall.
Corporate conformity is bad for your business and kills innovation
Rigid corporate culture is like a straitjacket that leaves no room for innovation. While you may want to keep things tidy and professional, in reality you are stifling creativity among a large pool of talented people.
When employees feel they must hide aspects of themselves or follow the same corporate formulae all the time, their thinking is limited. It is safe, predictable and frankly stale.
Consistency may give you consistency, but it rarely gives you new ideas. In today’s fast paced world where disruption and fierce competition are the norm, innovation will help you succeed. In a culture of conformity, you will not be able to come up with wild ideas, new perspectives or bold problem solving.
Diverse thinking is fueled by personal expression
The best ideas are often generated by people who take a different and unexpected approach to problems. When you encourage your employees to express themselves, this is what happens. Allowing employees to be themselves – with their quirks and humour or their out-of-the-box ideas – creates a culture that celebrates diversity.
People who feel confident in themselves are more likely to be open to sharing ideas without fear of judgement, to brainstorming creative angles, to collaborating with others, and to bringing the best ideas to a group.
Openness is a key to innovation, as you no longer get the same suggestions from people who are trying to fit in. You’ll get fresh ideas and innovative solutions to help your business grow.
Leadership: Empowering employees to be themselves
Leaders are crucial in this regard – they must set an example. It’s not enough to put a sticker that says “Be yourself” on the wall. It is about creating a culture where individuality at all levels of the workplace is valued. Leaders should lead by example, be open and show personality. They must also encourage others to follow suit.
It sends a powerful message to employees when they see their leaders embrace their quirks, and be real. They are given permission to do so. This creates a ripple throughout the company that fosters openness and trust. It also encourages innovation. People who aren’t concerned about their image spend more time on solving problems, and less time self censoring.
You can cultivate an individualistic culture without devolving into chaos and carnage.
Cultivating an open culture (without sacrificing professionalism).
HR may start to get nervous at this point. Will things get out-of-hand if everyone is allowed to be themselves? What’s the difference between professionalism and personality?
Here’s some great news. You can cultivate an individualistic culture without devolving into chaos and carnage. Allowing employees to be authentic does not mean that professionalism is abandoned. Giving people the freedom to express themselves, contribute and be true to their own selves, while aligning them with company values and goals, is what it’s all about.
Three Actionable Steps
What next? How can you make this happen in your business?
Start with these three simple steps:
Lead by example
Encourage those who are in leadership roles to show off their personality by taking the first step. You can do it by simply removing corporate jargon from meetings or sharing your personal story in a company newsletter.
Leaders who are genuine and honest will inspire others to follow. It also humanises your entire company, making employees feel more connected.
Create spaces for creativity
Create an environment that encourages collaboration, authenticity and freedom of thought.
It can be done through a informal brainstorming session or a walk in the park. Or, it can be done via a Slack channel that allows employees to share their ideas and respond to messages using as many emojis they want.
Integrate individuality into your values
Make “be yourself” (or something similar) an important company value. If it is part of the DNA of your company, everyone, from the CEO down to the new hire, knows that being yourself at work is not only tolerated but encouraged. ).
Employee authenticity: a business case
The secret to leading your industry isn’t more rules (which can make employees feel trapped) or stricter guidelines. The secret is to loosen the reins and embrace individuality. This will allow your employees to be their brilliant, authentic selves.
