TROY – Some companies think that if they move to new space that this will lead to creativity. Further, some believe that if people wear jeans or long hair, they will be more creative. I believe people can be creative if given the opportunity.
The January 2005 issue of Fast Company features Malcolm Gladwell, currently one of the most creative and innovative ?business gurus? in the United States. Gladwell has written two books and numerous articles – in The New Yorker – about business. His first book, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference was on the New York Times best-seller list for 28 weeks and more than two years on Business Week?s. He has recently published a second book entitled Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking.
For most of his adult life (he is 41 years old), Gladwell had closely cropped hair and looked like just about any average businessman. Then he grew a wooly Afro and now looks like a creative and hip person. But, he is the same person.
Gladwell says that an office needs to create a social atmosphere that stimulates new ideas. That floor space needs to promote more interaction and more spontaneity.
He says that; ?(the) task of the office, then, is to invite a particular kind of social interaction ? the casual, non threatening encounter that makes it easy for relative strangers to talk to each other.?
So business owners, check out your space before wasting stockholders? (or your) money in a major move.
John Bailey is founder of John Bailey & Associates, a public relations firm in Troy. This column comes from his new blog, which can be found at BaileyBlog.Com
