The business landscape is evolving. Taking their cue from the leaders of innovation, companies are no longer entrenched in traditional processes and procedures. Attitudes towards how growth and stability are achieved are increasingly dictated by a business’ ability to innovate. This means attitudes towards what makes a good employee are evolving too.
But whilst we recognize the need to attract engaged, clear-thinking individuals to our recycling business, HR processes all to often favor a ‘color-by-numbers’ approach to recruitment. Well experienced business leaders may still value straightforward yet uninspiring applicants for fear of the unpredictability of someone who might rock the boat. But in an unpredictable business world, these individuals often hold the keys to innovation and growth. Following are some considerations for why you should value a creative employee.
Enthusiastic to Learn
Though there can be no clear definitions of every type of creative employee, often one thing they have in common is that they are enthusiastic to learn. Learning feeds creativity, and often people with active imaginations crave learning in order to make sense of the world around them.
Offer New Solutions to Difficult Problems
“Once a creative has understood the processes and procedures they will retain a broad view of the challenges a business faces,” says Jenny LeQuesne, author at Researchpapersuk and Last Minute Writing. This means they will sometimes ask pertinent questions that no-one else would have thought to ask. Crucially, their overactive brains will find new ways to approach these problems and they will offer you some innovative ways to get around them.
New Ideas
They may even spot issues that no-one else has even noticed. With their love of learning, they will have access to a wealth of knowledge and patterns that can be applied in some astonishing ways, thereby opening new revenue streams or untapped opportunities.
How Do You Attract Them?
The biggest issue employers face in attracting creative employees is that many no longer see the traditional 9-5 workplace as a legitimate environment for them. They have opened themselves up to other methods of working. Therefore employers have to look for other ways of recruitment, often actively head-hunting.
Talent agencies
Naturally, many creative employees are attracted to arts and humanities organizations. Many will work as actors, writers or artists. Getting into the habit of looking at the roster of talent agencies can yield some interesting results when seeking creative individuals. Aside from their respective artistic endeavors, they are likely to have had experience in commercial environments which can work to your advantage.
Freelancing Websites
Increasingly, many creative employees have struck out on their own. “One of the drawbacks of employing creative individuals is that they crave enough autonomy to allow their talents to shine,” writes Brian O’Connell, a regular contributor to Draftbeyondand Writinity. “When this has not been the case, some have turned away from hierarchical companies and sought to make money for themselves.”
Taking a look through freelancing websites is a sure way to find some extraordinary talent. By their nature, these websites provide work for autonomous individuals who seek tasks specifically tailored to their creative needs. The freelancing world is growing exponentially, but ultimately, with a carefully crafted, attractive proposal of work, you can bring your freelancer in from the cold. Offer them firm employment performing tasks they were born to do, and they are likely to become a fantastic asset to your business or project.
Social Media
Finally, looking for creative employees to join your team can be approached much like finding customers. Take a good look through your social media followers. For a start, you’ll know that at least some of your business interests align, but you will also get a good handle on how they are creatively speaking.