Whether you are running a small business or trying to give your career a boost, the challenges are many and the coffee is never strong enough.
That’s because in today’s world, standing still is the same as falling behind. Markets shift, industries evolve, job titles vanish, and expectations grow. In short, you need an edge, a way to stand out, adapt, and find smarter ways to move forward.
Enter: creative thinking. Your secret weapon.
Why creative thinking is necessary
Creativity is often misunderstood as something exclusive to designers and artists. But it’s the most universal and underrated tool in the kit. Creative thinking is about seeing beyond the obvious. It involves solving problems with originality, seizing opportunities others don’t see, and making connections that make people say, “Huh… I never thought of it like that.”
And it’s powerful.
A global study found that companies that prioritise creativity, outperform their peers in both revenue growth and market share.i That’s not just good news for businesses – it’s huge news for individuals. The most recent World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report showed an increased demand by employers for creative thinking.ii
Creativity isn’t a luxury; it’s a business and career accelerator. It’s what helps a job applicant stand out from 200 others, a mid-level employee creates a career-defining project, and an entrepreneur dreams up a wildly successful idea.
How to fuel creative thinking
Good news: creativity isn’t something you’re either born with or not. It’s like a muscle – use it, and it gets stronger. Here are a few ways to keep that creative engine humming, no matter what stage you’re at in your business or career.
Get inquisitive
Whether you’re running your own company or trying to rise through the ranks at work, the best breakthroughs often come from asking better questions.
Start with: “Why are we doing it this way?” and follow it up with “What if we didn’t?” The most interesting innovations come from people who aren’t afraid to challenge the default settings – whether it’s how you onboard new clients or how your team handles meetings.
Even just wondering how another industry solves a similar problem can open up a new path for yours.
Make room for mental meandering
Creativity doesn’t thrive on back-to-back Zoom calls or to-do lists the length of a novel. It needs space which means giving your brain a breather.
According to neuroscience research, your brain’s default mode network – what kicks in when you’re not actively focused – plays a key role in idea generation.iii
So, block off “thinking time” the way you would a meeting. Take a walk. Sit with a pen and paper and doodle. Make some space to reflect at the end of the day.
Welcome silly, strange, and “stupid” ideas
Raise your hand if you’ve ever shot down your own idea before it even had a chance to crawl out of your brain. We’ve all been there. But some of the most creative solutions begin as something ridiculous.
Don’t judge ideas too early. Let them sit for a bit. Tinker with them. The key is creating psychological safety to experiment without fear of looking foolish. That’s where the magic lives.
Get out of your bubble (and your algorithm)
If you only talk to the same people, scroll the same feeds, and read the same books, don’t be surprised when your ideas start sounding like déjà vu. Creativity loves variety. So, mix it up.
Have coffee with someone from a completely different field. Read something you totally disagree with. Try a new hobby or skill. Follow someone on LinkedIn who works in an industry you don’t understand at all.
When you expose your brain to new inputs, you give it more material to work with and that’s when connections start forming in weird, wonderful ways.
In business, creative thinking can help you build something extraordinary. In a career, it can help you grow faster, shine brighter, and find meaning in what you do. It’s not just for a chosen few, it’s a mindset – and one that anyone can adopt.
So go ahead, free yourself up to think differently. The square was never big enough for you anyway.
i https://landing.adobe.com/dam/downloads/whitepapers/55563.en.creative-dividends.pdf
ii https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs_Report_2025.pdf
