The answer is a strong yes, atleast according to a new survey conducted by middle eastern job site Bayt.com.
The survey found that 92 per cent of the respondents believe that creativity can be acquired and learned.
Also highlighting employee attitudes towards creativity and innovation in the workplace, it found that 85 per cent of the respondents insisted that their jobs require creativity and innovation.
Titled Creativity and Innovation in the MENA 2023, the survey was conducted online and aimed to highlight the importance of nurturing a creative work environment, and the factors that help foster creativity in the workplace.
The do’s for a creative culture
As a part of the survey, the respondents were also asked factors that increase creativity in the workplace.
The highest voted-for method was brainstorming and group work sessions, with 42 per cent respondents backing it.
Following closely behind, 30 per cent of respondents felt that providing tools for learning and exploration boosted their creativity.
Organisational creativity is key
16 per cent of the respondents declared that maintaining a diverse team was a strong stimulus for creativity.
However, only 12 per cent of respondents believed that allowing employees to lead their own projects was a significant stimulus.
It also revealed that 82 per cent of respondents agreed that their direct manager valued creativity and innovation, while 89 per cent of respondents described their workplace culture as creative, indicating that an organisational emphasis on creativity pays off.
The survey also highlights that the hunger for learning and growth (52 per cent), followed by leadership and self-motivation (19 per cent), are considered as the personality traits that correlate the most with creativity at work.
The don’ts for a creative culture
Apart from the positives, the survey also noted that repetitive routines lower creativity at work, with 67 per cent of respondents agreeing with this statement.
27 per cent of the respondents identified resistance to change as a roadblock towards achieving organisational creativity.
While 25 per cent of respondents highlighted the lack of access to information as another challenge towards boosting a creative culture within organisations.
Read also: Where do great ideas come from?
The survey findings indicate a potential opportunity for employers to invest in training and development programs to develop and increase workplace creativity.
The findings were collated from a sample of 3,052 respondents from the following countries: UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Yemen, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Sudan among others.
Ola Haddad, Director of Human Resources at Bayt.com said: “Creativity and innovation are integral components of modern-day workplaces, and they go hand-in-hand with business success. It’s essential for employers to recognise the significance of fostering creative work environments and provide employees with the necessary tools to enhance their creative abilities.”
