How to create and keep the spark of curiosity going for your team

Every team leader and member has experience with dull brainstorm meetings, where the ideas are few and far apart, or where there is an overall lack of creativity in the atmosphere. It’s no wonder, as creating, but more importantly, keeping a curious workforce can be quite the challenge. Here at Laika, curiosity is one of our core values. We strive to keep an open mind as a crew, and actively work to keep that curious spark alive. There are some tips and tricks, though, that encourage and promote a curious team. From hiring a professional coach, holding internal workshops, or even just encouraging the consumption of new types of magazines and content—the possibilities are endless.  The Laika Space Dogs would like to share with you some of our favorite tips and tricks to keep your workplace curious and creative. 

First things first: set a good example 

You are part of the team. What do we mean by that? Well, first and foremost, you should lead by example, and be a role model to your team members. This doesn’t only apply to leaders, but to every member of the team. Do you want a reliable, motivated team? Be a reliable and motivated leader or member—set the example. You could widen your horizon by learning a new language, subscribing to different newsletters or joining a meditation class—it doesn't matter what. There are hundreds of possibilities to learn new things and improve your abilities. By staying curious yourself, team members take notice, and in turn feel emboldened and more motivated to also broaden their horizons. As the great Captain James T. Kirk from Star Trek once said: “To boldly go where no man has gone before.” 

Encouragement: create a workspace of opportunities and inter-team communication

The cosmos is full of opportunities for new sparks of creativity. You could hire a professional coach or even just do something crafty with your teammates. It doesn't have to cost a lot—even an easy ten-minute card game can get the brain going in all sorts of new directions. Simple things can make a major difference in increasing a team's curiosity. Training opportunities and workshops will lead to an improved exchange of ideas among members. The most important thing is to get your brain excited. Step out of the routine and see how your mind starts rolling. And remember, this doesn’t only improve your day-to-day work, but maybe that of your colleague's as well. It's essential to encourage team members who have creative ideas to share them. For example, if you see an interesting free online event, why not share it with your co-workers? Small gestures like these, will not only improve your work relationships, but will also give you some fun and exciting things to talk about during lunch. 

Hands-on creativity techniques

It’s time for specific ideas! But of course these are just to get you started. Let's begin with a classic: the mind map. You can do a mind map all by yourself or as a group. All you need is a big sheet of paper and a pen for everyone, and let the creativity begin. At the center of the map, circle a key term, or a problem you are trying to solve. Branch out with more key terms and ideas from the initial circle. With each new term or idea, the branching out continues, creating a notable tableau of interconnected ideas. Don’t inhibit yourself, and let the ideas flow freely! Mind maps are an ideal and simple warm-up for workshops and brainstorms. 

Another simple but yet effective technique to spark creativity are the use of mood boards! You can create one on paper or use an online canvas. On the mood board, add words, ideas, images, colors, and clippings that evoke the mood you are trying to establish for a specific theme.  Using an online canvas allows you, to not only add thoughts or pictures, but also add videos, and fitting podcasts—just about anything that aligns with your vision of the topic. This will give you an all-encompassing visual overview. 

Lastly, you could also use something like the Workshop Tactics by Pip Decks. It contains a proper collection of mini-workshops ideas and instructions for your team. The collection has a permanent space at the Laika office… we never know, when we might be in need of a creativity spark.

Retrospective and repeat

Here at Laika we have regular retrospective meetings. These are incredibly helpful for members to share their perspective on the past couple of weeks and experiences. Keeping the exchange between crew members alive, is essential for a continuous curious workspace. One member might have attended a workshop and has new knowledge to share with the others. Or another colleague, might have tried out a new brainstorming tactic and wants to talk about it.

According to a SAS study, curiosity is increasingly important for business performance and success. 72% of managers believe that curiosity is an essential trait in employees and LinkedIn Data confirms that, as they noticed a 71% growth in posts regarding curiosity in the workplace. This is no surprise, as in the end, curious minds create impactful ideas together. So give it a try, and see for yourself and your team.