While there’s no limit to what a team of creative brains can manifest, sometimes your team enters a creative rut. It’s natural! Just like the body’s muscles become strained when too much pressure is exerted on them, your team’s collective minds can become ‘strained’ too. But don’t worry, you won’t be stuck in this rut forever! Here are some practical tips to help your team navigate and heal from a creative strain.

Make time to relax a little

It’s as simple as that. Take a breath and relax for a minute.

Entering a creative rut is often a sign that your brain needs a break. So, best to not overthink anything and press pause. During this time, encourage your team to be intentional about the time they spend relaxing. Seemingly ordinary acts like listening to a podcast, music, taking a walk, sleeping, or refueling on coffee and water can be surprisingly beneficial in jumpstarting ideas.

Relaxing means closing all the open tabs in your brain so that when you reboot your creative system, things run a bit smoother and quicker. Sometimes, we just need a break to come back and connect the dots that will lead to that next big idea.

Break the routine and get spontaneous

Who says the best ideas come to you in the office? Probably no one. I think we can all agree that some of our light-bulb moments usually take place in unlikely, or sanctuary-like, places- such as in the shower or while driving.

Help your team break away from the office setting by organizing a field trip like back in your school days! You could take an afternoon off for some hatchet throwing to encourage your team to let their hair down, or maybe spend the day volunteering at a local animal shelter for some team bonding!

However, don’t be afraid to keep it simple. Even escaping to a local cafe can provide enough space from the office to pump up that dopamine and spark that next big idea!

Look for inspiration

Find inspiration through the work of other great creatives! Take some time to skim through blogs, magazines, image searches, and the website of other agencies. Doing so can either light the fire to your own ideation or shed light on a different perspective that influences the way you approach your own project.

Inspiration can be found anywhere at any time, so be sure to always carry a notepad, or something similar, to jot down your thoughts in, even if it’s just on your phone or on a paper napkin! There’s nothing worse than having that aha-moment at an impromptu time and then failing to recall what the idea was when the time is right.

And lastly, remember that when searching for inspiration, never directly copy another’s idea. If you find yourself taking a liking to someone else’s work, find a way to put a personal spin on it!

Use Google Alerts

Most people only use Google as a search engine, but what they don’t realize is that there are oodles of other great features they can be leveraging! Like, did you know Google is capable of bringing articles to your attention without you ever having to search for them!? It’s called Google Alerts.

Alerts are created based on keywords like, “benefits,” “HR news,” or even “ice cream,” and can enable your team to keep a finger on the pulse of industry trends- and this is just one of many free features! So put some time aside and learn about all the other tools you can be leveraging to take some of the brain-power out of creating your next social post or blog post.

Organize in-house training

Perhaps your team could benefit from new ideas, perspectives, strategies, and continued training from an industry expert. Look at this rut as a sign that it’s time to explore new growth potential. Or in other words, it’s time to upgrade and exit from the comfort zone. Organizing in-house training benefits your team, and, consequently, you as an employer or team leader. In-house training will provide your team with inspiration and new ideas from leaders and teachers in the industry.

An alternative option, for those looking to upskill on a budget, is to utilize the classes offered on platforms like LinkedIn and Coursera. In fact, there are plenty of free classes that could be beneficial for any team or individual! And, don’t feel silly for brushing up on the basics. After years in a specific role, it can be easy to forget where we came from but remember, a strong foundation is everything.

Get feedback

Just admit it, it’s probably time you re-up on those leadership courses and team development classes, right? Well, let me save you some time with this tip- ask for feedback. Asking honest questions to your team members to ensure you’re doing good work will not just improve your relationships with them, but it will also put the team in a better position to create great ideas together.

In addition to asking for outward feedback, get a little introspective! Ask yourself questions like: Are you open to your team’s suggestions and feedback? How have you received a differing opinion from a team member? Are you keeping them in a box or helping them get wild and flexible with their work? Is your company culture toxic? How can you be a better leader? And, are you sensitive to your team’s needs and pain points?

Sharing ideas can be vulnerable, especially if the person sharing thinks it may be silly. By asking questions, you’ll be creating an environment of honesty and trust that will encourage members to speak freely.