{"id":7798,"date":"2022-11-07T09:49:20","date_gmt":"2022-11-07T09:49:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tpcleadership.com\/uk-en\/uncategorized\/managing-virtual-teams-in-the-professional-service-sector-how-to-promote-creativity\/"},"modified":"2025-04-20T17:34:07","modified_gmt":"2025-04-20T16:34:07","slug":"managing-virtual-teams-in-the-professional-service-sector-how-to-promote-creativity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tpcleadership.com\/uk-en\/developing-leaders\/managing-virtual-teams-in-the-professional-service-sector-how-to-promote-creativity\/","title":{"rendered":"Managing Virtual Teams in the Professional Service Sector: How to Promote Creativity\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

In recent decades, the rise of new technologies has forced organisations to reinvent and innovate. As a result, creativity has been central to producing compelling value propositions for customers, employees and different user groups. It has also been crucial in harnessing differentiation and working towards more purposeful organisations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Neel Arya<\/a>, an expert in digital transformation, sustainability and creative challenges, says \u201cCreativity is necessary now in terms of digital innovation and in terms of how we reduce water consumption, lower emissions and how we create more sustainable ways of working \u2014 the real zeitgeist of today.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In this latest blog focusing on supporting the Professional Service industry, Ayra explores how, in a virtual environment where team meetings can often become just reporting vehicles, facilitating creativity can be a challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n

How can we infuse creativity into a virtual setting?<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u201cTo be creative we have to be deliberate about wanting to be creative and that requires setting up the environment,\u201d explains Neel. \u201cInherently creative people \u2014 artists, musicians \u2014 have a process that tends to be incredibly structured and ordered.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

First, consider the human side to that process. You need to create a virtual space that allows people to take risks because, as Neel explains, creativity is ultimately about jumping into the unknown.<\/span><\/p>\n

Next, define a guiding question, or a problem to be solved. Be clear about the context \u2014 why it\u2019s important, what could happen if it\u2019s not resolved \u2014 and unravel what it is you\u2019re aiming for. That may be a new structure, template or system. Bring the virtual team together, invite them to answer questions, explore ideas and encourage them to co-own the guiding question.<\/span><\/p>\n

Practical techniques<\/b><\/h2>\n

Neel suggests using the related worlds concept to aid the creativity process. \u201cLook into different creative worlds \u2014 improvisational jazz or comedy for example \u2014 and see what can be imported back into your world. The brain tends to get stuck in \u2018rivers of thinking\u2019 when existing neural connections carry the thought process down well-trodden paths, but what we want is for people to jump into different perspectives.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This process may happen away from the virtual setting. It\u2019s the job of the team leader to bring the team back together to consolidate thinking using appropriate digital tools such as Mural or Miro.<\/span><\/p>\n

Neel explains that virtual settings can decrease our humanity. That can be overcome by allowing divergent thinking outside the virtual arena, but creativity really emerges when teams are brought back together for constructive conflict and criticism. \u201cIt is this convergence that transforms a collection of bad ideas into successful creative ones,\u201d says Neel. \u201cCriticism is fundamental to the creative process.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The key is to focus on creating a human, safe space where teams can explore ideas and invite criticism within structured phases.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Your weekly challenge<\/b><\/p>\n

1.Come up with a list of problems you want your team to get creative about and solve.<\/span><\/p>\n

2.Refine the list and select one or two and create a brief for your team<\/span><\/p>\n

3.The brief should include:<\/span><\/p>\n

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