THE biggest challenge for management these days is how to                                                                                             
get managers to be more creative. There are several ways to                                                                                           
handle this.                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
Consider first the creative environment.  Here we are                                                                                                 
looking at such factors as the work atmospherics: Is the                                                                                              
office conducive for creative work? Is there a learning                                                                                               
culture in place? Are the employees encouraged to be                                                                                                  
different and hence preparing them to become more creative.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                      
The belief is that creativity thrives in an environment                                                                                               
that is creativity productive, that is everybody and every                                                                                            
part of the workplace is contributing to making the work                                                                                              
creative.                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
This includes the manager himself who needs to show some                                                                                              
creative abilities.                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
Secondly, of relevance to this point, employees must see                                                                                              
that there is a close- correlation between creativity and                                                                                             
productivity.                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
When they are creative, they are usually open to consider                                                                                             
other options and are more willing to offer more than one                                                                                             
solution to a problem.                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                      
Under such a circumstance, the manager can expect more from                                                                                           
his subordinates.                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                      
But how can a manager influence the situation to his                                                                                                  
advantage? He needs to listen more. He must ensure that                                                                                               
there is- enough team-energy.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
In this regard, the manager has to have an idea of the                                                                                                
strength and weakness of those working with him and for                                                                                               
him.                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
My third point is that creativity must be made a part of                                                                                              
the human resource (HR) function.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                      
It is a requirement that the HR department would need to                                                                                              
conduct psychometric tests from time to time on all the                                                                                               
employees to determine their efficacy as a team player.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
Knowing who could work better with everyone in the team can                                                                                           
be very valuable to obtain the most efficient quantum of                                                                                              
productivity from a single project.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
It takes all sorts of traits and capabilities to make a                                                                                               
team.                                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
The manager would have to be advised on all the                                                                                                       
possibilities he could have from his team.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
HR has to assist the manager in order to get the most and                                                                                             
the best from each and every member of his staff.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                      
The fourth point has to do with the manager's expectations                                                                                            
of his team members.                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
The idea behind this is that the manager has to have a                                                                                                
positive disposition of his staff members.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
He would only expect the best from them and only then it                                                                                              
seems the staff can give their best.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
This is the phenomenon that has come to be known in                                                                                                   
management as the "Pygmalion effect" or in some instances,                                                                                            
the "Galatea effect".                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
It is essentially a situation where the thought of                                                                                                    
something good resulting from a work assignment or of a                                                                                               
person, can actually ensure that the output will be equally                                                                                           
that good or that person will in fact do the work                                                                                                     
satisfactorily.                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
In other words, the manager is called to believe in his                                                                                               
employees and they in turn, as the theory goes, will truly                                                                                            
act on it.                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
Expectations have therefore been translated into good                                                                                                 
outcomes.                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
Fifthly, we have to take the idea of bringing the climate                                                                                             
of creativity into the workplace very seriously.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
It is more a responsibility of the manager alone. He has to                                                                                           
exercise an open mind.                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                      
There must be regular feedback sessions.  Tasks will need                                                                                             
to be clearly explained and results to be frequently                                                                                                  
reviewed.                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
Finally, the manager is required to give appreciation when                                                                                            
one is due. The human touch has still its beneficial effect                                                                                           
in today's workplace.                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
What is the creative guru's last word on all these five                                                                                               
points?                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
Firstly, the brain registers things better if they are                                                                                                
presented in an orderly, organised manner.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
It is a known fact that the brain will only recognise                                                                                                 
patterns. Thoughts that are confused and muddled will                                                                                                 
receive less attention.                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
The word for the manager here is that he has to have a                                                                                                
clear mind and is able to present his thoughts in a logical                                                                                           
way.                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
Skills for making good presentations as well as the ability                                                                                           
to communicate well are prerequisites for the successful                                                                                              
manager today,                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
Secondly, the manager 'Must be equipped with the creativity                                                                                           
tools for his work, These may include brainstorming                                                                                                   
techniques as well as those that have been propagated by                                                                                              
Edward de Bono.                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
Examples are the Six Thinking Hats method and the Direct                                                                                              
Attention Thinking Tools.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
De Bono has also elaborated on the lateral thinking mode.                                                                                             
What thinking laterally means is that we will have to ask                                                                                             
the question, "why not?" every time a creative effort is                                                                                              
needed.                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
In doing so, it will activate our mind to see things in a                                                                                             
totally different way.                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                      
According to a Malaysian speaker on creativity, the stage                                                                                             
of asking "why not" questions brings us back to the time                                                                                              
when we were s1rill a child aged between five and 12.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
Other techniques that are found useful are the following:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
* Have a clear vision                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
* Break the everyday patterns of doing things                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
* Look for windows of opportunities                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
* Develop perseverance                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                      
* Maintain a caring attitude                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
Malaysian managers take heed for it pays to be creative.