But not all leaders are comfortable calling themselves creatives or tapping into their creativity. They think creativity is reserved for the gifted few, or that creativity is the domain of the CMO or CIO, not the rest of the C-Suite. But that’s all wrong. We all benefit from more creativity in our lives and our workplace because all it really means to be creative is that you have a powerful skill for solving problems – and every leader needs that.

Still, unlocking your creativity may be a challenge for leaders who are trying to consciously access it for the first time. So, to help you start your journey to creativity, here are the rules I rely on when I’m looking to get more creative as a leader:

1. Learn first

Immersion has to be a core approach anytime you’re going from blank paper to an idea. For me, this is focused on learning, seeking input from various sources, and leveraging new information as the foundation for my creative process.

I like to think of creativity as the great equaliser – no matter where you’re from, creativity gives people the opportunity to think differently and to see transformation take place. But that only works if you release the assumption that, as a leader, you need to have all the answers. Coming to every situation with curiosity to learn will naturally jumpstart your creativity and see things from new points of view.

2. Be brave

Anytime you’re crafting new work, it’s important you push yourself out of your comfort zone and put brave ideas on paper. Let yourself off the hook of creative expectations. Too often, we self-edit and halt ourselves from delivering our bravest work out into the world.

There isn’t a person on the planet that hasn’t suffered from the occasional creative block – CEOS, decision-makers, and business leaders are no exception. In fact, because of the pressures they’re under to answer to so many different stakeholders, they can find themselves frozen and creatively stagnant whilst hustling to solve every single problem that comes across their desk. In my work, I’ve found that this often happens when my mind goes into overdrive on the planning side of the business. But I’ve been reminding myself a lot over the past few years that “there’s no safety in standing still”.

To unlock your creativity, you must be willing to release control, be open to and create space for learning, and approach challenges as fresh opportunities.

Endurance athlete Rich Roll once said “mood follows action”. The same thinking applies when you find yourself facing a creative challenge.

For me, the best antidote to creative stagnation or overwhelm, and the best trigger for getting myself in the mood is to get my ideas down on paper. If you’re feeling stuck, I recommend doing the same: get your vision on paper and use the breadth of ideas as the basis for refinement.

3. Sweat the details

Details matter when it comes to creativity. Ensuring that we have put rigor into our work means getting to the core of our ideas.

It’s in the details where you often find direction and originality, especially from a business perspective. Because while we live in an age where it feels like it’s all been done before, your unique ability to develop unique details that make your company, your service, your mission one of a kind vital ingredients to success that only your creativity can help you discover.

Still, there’s truth to the adage “the devils in the details,” so wait to dig into the details after your work is down on paper. The other way around, and we often miss our best work by stifling ourselves.

4. Engage with others

I’ve always believed that the best creative outcomes, especially in business, are supported by a team-first mentality. One of the greatest things leaders can do to unlock creativity is to not go through it alone. Find a community of other leaders who push you to be better, challenge your point of view, and encourage you to be the best version of yourself.

Throughout my career, I’ve found that every client project, community initiative, and entrepreneur pursuit has been much sweeter when done in creative collaboration with others. Our best work happens when connected.

Growing one of the largest CreativeMornings chapters in the world was only possible due to the collective creativity of an incredible organizing team that came together around our deep belief in what was possible for our community. The growth of Grizzly, the agency I lead, is no different. It’s a team sport, and it wouldn’t happen without the collective effort of a team of contributors. This belief drives one of Grizzly’s core values: win together. We believe everyone is creative, so our team collaborates and collectively contributes to solving creative challenges daily.

5. Play more

It can feel daunting to create something new. Often this can manifest through resistance, imposter syndrome, and other various blockages that keep us from tapping into our greatest potential. To counterbalance this, ensure that your creative environment is filled with play and fun. Make sure you’re designing work environments that enable your most imaginative ideas and HAVE FUN doing it.

Creativity is the lifeblood of the business. Using our imagination to bring new work that shapes the future allows individuals, teams, and companies to approach the world with a new perspective. This means outside-the-box thinking and promoting an adventurous view of what is possible for the company.

With creativity, we can build an agile and flexible culture that is grounded on the mission to find innovative ways to solve problems.