Spark your team’s creativity and resourcefulness with this fun icebreaker!
Many people think that creativity is an inborn trait rather than something that can be learned and developed. That’s debatable, but without a conducive environment for creativity to be expressed, how can we expect to see ideas arising from employees? The performance of today’s brands is becoming increasingly dependent on the ability to be creative.
Why Activities that Promote Creativity Are Essential for Companies
Stimulating creativity is a major focus for any company. And while there isn’t one single formula to accomplish these means, engaging in group creativity exercises can transform a company’s culture into one of free thinking and innovation. Encouraging employees to participate in activities that promote creativity helps to create a space where ideas flow freely, and solutions to complex problems become more accessible.
Paper Enterprise: A Fun and Engaging Exercise for Boosting Creativity
One such group creativity exercise, called Paper Enterprise, is a simple yet powerful tool for sparking creativity among team members. This icebreaker encourages participants to think outside the box, demonstrating how simple materials like paper can unlock innovative thinking.
Time:
- 5–6 minutes
Purpose:
- To spark ideas, creativity, and resourcefulness through an engaging, hands-on activity.
Participants:
- Small groups (5-10 participants)
- This can be done with one group or multiple groups at the same time.
Materials needed:
- Sheets of paper
Instructions:
- Give a piece of paper to each group of five to ten participants.
- One person at a time stands and demonstrates the use of that piece of paper.
- The demonstration must be silent – no words can be used.
- The person must stand while demonstrating their idea.
- The demonstration must be original and creative.
Desired Outcome: Enhancing Problem-Solving Skills Through Creative Thinking
Participants experience myriad ways to use a piece of paper and translate this to the multitude of ways to solve problems, use resources, motivate a team, and more!
Effective problem solving does take some time and attention – more of the latter than the former. But less time and attention than is required by a problem not well solved. What it takes is a willingness to slow down. A problem is like a curve in the road. Take it right and you’ll find yourself in good shape for the straightaway that follows. Take it too fast and you may not be in as good of shape.
Enjoy this group creativity exercise with your team and then debrief what was learned afterward!
