The secret to innovation is smaller than you think

Here's what we learned when thirty leaders took small, simple actions to apply creative thinking to their daily work.

Over the past few months, we partnered with GIBS Business School to run our Lead for Creative Thinking programme. Thirty leaders from IT, HR, risk, finance and strategy walked in with spreadsheets and walked out with mind maps. They tested tools in real time, redesigned team rituals, coached with curiosity instead of directives, and discovered that creativity isn't some mystical gift reserved for design studios. It's a practical skill that gets teams unstuck and moves work forward faster.

The World Economic Forum ranks creativity as one of the most important skills for the next five years. But forget the future for a moment. What about next Tuesday's problem? The one that's been sitting in your inbox for three weeks because the usual approaches keep failing?

That's where creative thinking becomes your most powerful ally. 

Here's what worked for this cohort, and what you can steal for your own team right now.

1) Make thinking visible

Across functions, risk, data, HR, networks, finance, technology, leaders used mind mapping and other visual techniques to get beyond linear lists, see connections and communicate clearly.

“I used mind mapping to tackle a current solution architecture challenge. Mapping out all the dependencies and possibilities visually helped me connect ideas that I wouldn’t have seen in a linear list. Now I know why detectives in movies always have a board with pictures and string”  Uveshree, Technology Information Leader

“The graphics made the issues and solutions clearer. We identified specific problems with our onboarding process. We used the Mind Mapping tool to generate possible solutions. I was able to implement some of the solutions which has led to an achievement of 95% of the Onboarding of employees done on time.”  Fahmida, HR Leader

Mind mapping is a powerful tool that helps us to structure and share ideas. It also helps with decision making and planning. It combines art and science, logic and emotion, words and images. Your brain loves it because it mirrors how you actually think: messy, connected, alive.

Try this: Next time your team faces a stubborn problem, grab a whiteboard (or digital equivalent) and map it together. Put the problem in the centre, branch out to causes, impacts and possible solutions. Watch what happens when everyone can literally see the same picture.

👉 Read our blog on mind mapping

2) Design rituals that make creativity a habit 

Creativity doesn't need a separate budget or a two-day offsite. It needs a regular spot in your calendar. One of the strongest lessons from this cohort was the power of intentional rituals. Simple, repeatable practices that make creativity part of everyday work.

As Natalie, a leader in Information Technology, put it:

"Another key learning was the importance of rituals. Before this module, I often viewed team rituals as routine check-ins or processes for efficiency. The “aha” moment was realising that rituals can be designed to play a symbolic and transformational role in fostering belonging, dialogue, and creative confidence. By intentionally reshaping existing rituals, such as starting meetings with a “Creative Spark,” I can embed curiosity and innovation into our daily culture rather than treating creativity as an occasional activity.”

Her reflection captures a subtle but crucial truth: creativity doesn’t need to be an extra item on the agenda. It’s something you weave into how you already work. When leaders design small, meaningful rituals, they signal what matters most and create a rhythm of curiosity, reflection and connection.

Leaders tested this idea in different ways and designed their own rituals. One leader introduced a “One Win, One Wonder” segment to his regular weekly team meeting. This is a quick round where everyone celebrates a recent success and poses a question they’re curious about. Another leader introduced a monthly reward ceremony to celebrate small wins with a certificate along with a small fun prize like a puzzle or chocolate.

These rituals did not required extra budget or fancy tech. What made them powerful was their consistency and the shared intention behind them. Over time, these moments became creative touchpoints that lifted energy, built trust and reminded teams that innovation isn’t reserved for big projects. It’s something to practice in small ways, together, regularly.

Try this: Create your own team ritual this month. Anchor rituals to purpose and rhythm. Design simple, repeatable acts that cue a creative state:  for example, opening meetings with a curiosity question, rotating who brings an inspiration object, or closing with a one-word reflection.
Make them consistent, participatory, and lightly playful so they become cultural anchors rather than forced routines.Take inspiration from some of ideas mentioned above. Notice what shifts in your team’s curiosity and collaboration.

3) Coach for curiosity 

 One of the most transformative shifts for this cohort of leaders was learning to coach for creative behaviour. During the course, leaders experimented with curiosity-driven coaching conversations, both at work and at home, and saw immediate changes in initiative and ownership.

“Shifting from direct conversations to open, exploratory questions created opportunities for employees to think differently and take ownership.”   Andisa, Risk & Compliance Manager

“The open questions pushed us past the obvious answers. My colleague, who usually waits for me to steer, came up with two alternative approaches to a process challenge we were facing. One of those ideas has already been piloted and is showing promise in reducing bottlenecks. The shift in ownership was clear so instead of waiting for direction, <my team> became invested in experimenting with their own ideas.”  Uveshree, Technology Information Manager

As a leader, you can role model creativity through the questions you ask. This way you build capability, not dependency. Leaders who coached with curiosity found that their teams not only generated stronger solutions, but also developed the confidence to keep iterating. Some introduced short “learning debriefs” after projects or sprints to reflect, share insights and plan the next experiment, embedding a rhythm of growth.

Try this: Four curiosity questions to spark creative ownership

1. Why does this problem matter? (Clarify what’s at stake, who’s affected, and why it’s worth solving.)
2. What assumptions are we making about this problem? (Invite the team to challenge old patterns and reframe.)
3. What’s the smallest step we can take to test this idea? (Encourage experimentation and reduce fear of failure.)
4. What did you learn from this experiment? (Reinforce learning and continuous improvement.)

4) Collaborate creatively across siloes 

Some of the biggest breakthroughs happened when leaders invited fresh eyes and new voices into the conversation. When people from different teams, disciplines, or departments came together, familiar challenges started to look completely different.

“We noticed what people really needed from our Power BI library… that small observation led to a much larger reusable component solution.”  Anjali, Strategy & Innovation Leader

“Breaking down silos with Security helped us test safely without unnecessary delays.”   Nandipha, Technology Manager

By mixing ideas across boundaries, what we call combinational imagination, teams found smarter ways to prioritise network investments, design reusable analytics tools, and streamline complex processes. Collaboration didn’t just improve efficiency; it sparked entirely new thinking.

Try this: Invite one “outside voice” to your next problem-solving session, a neighbouring team, a customer advocate, or someone who’ll ask the questions no one else thinks to ask.

The benefits of developing a creative culture

When leaders make space for creativity, they unlock more than new ideas. They unlock potential. Across this GIBS Business School cohort, we saw how developing creative thinking changed the way people approached work, problem-solving and collaboration.

Leaders learned to:

• See creativity as a leadership skill, not an optional extra.
• Understand and harness different thinking styles to build stronger, more balanced teams.
• Recognise their own mindsets and shift from fixed to growth-oriented thinking.
• Remove barriers in their systems and environments that stifle innovation.
• Design small rituals and habits that make curiosity and experimentation part of daily work.

The result? Teams that think more broadly, collaborate more deeply, and innovate more confidently.

“I came in little skeptical, but I now see creativity, not as the opposite of structure, but as a complement to it; a way to unlock better solutions, lead teams with confidence, and navigate ambiguity with more agility.

Looking back, the course has shifted my perspective in a meaningful way. I now see creative leadership as an essential part of my role, especially in Digital Identity Management where the challenges are complex and the solutions require both technical depth and innovative thinking. It has encouraged me to step into my leadership role not only as a subject-matter expert but also as someone who sets the tone for how creativity and problem-solving flourish within the team.”   Mukesh, Technology Information Leader

Bringing innovative leadership to your workplace

If you’d like your leaders to build these capabilities, the kind that turn pressure into possibility, we’d love to help.  Our workshops and programmes are practical and designed to fit real work. Contact us for a no-obligation exploratory call. Email [email protected]

*Note: the images used in this blog are not from the Lead for Creative Thinking programme which is a virtual programme