In order to provide you with the best possible experience on the LifeSkills website we use cookies and similar technology to collect data from your device and browser while you are here. Collecting this data helps us to personalise content for you, understand how you use the website, allow access to social media features and deliver personalised service and advert message content. You can find out more in our Cookie Policy. Please select ‘Accept all’ to consent to us collecting your data in this way. To see other data collection options, select ‘Manage data preferences’.
The types of similar technologies used in this website fall into one of four categories - Strictly Necessary, Performance, Functionality & Profile and Targeting. You can find out more information in our Cookie Policy.
Please indicate the categories you wish to consent to by selecting ‘Manage data preferences’ and using the sliders below and then click “Save preferences” to retain your preferences for future visits. You can change these preferences at any time by clicking Cookie Policy on our website.
For learners from school through to university and beyond
What stage are you at?
For people like teachers, youth group leaders, mentors, local authorities, charities, job centre staff, and parents or carers
Work with a group or a class
Coach an adult
Tools, tips and activities to help your family
Resources for educators
Busy schedules and looming deadlines don’t usually allow for much ‘thinking outside the box’, however creativity can bring a lot of value to the workplace – as these three inventive employees found out…
“An office is probably the last place you’d look for creativity. I should know, I work in one,” laughs Albert, a trainee finance assistant. “I always left my creative interests to after hours.” However it was precisely these creative interests that ended up having a profound effect on Albert’s career.
A keen cook, he enjoyed spending his evenings coming up with elaborate lunches. The next day, envious colleagues would gaze at Albert’s mouthwatering visual spectacles – especially the pizzas.
“I always left my creative interests to after hours.”
One day Albert decided to spruce up his reports with the same decorative flair he applied to his lunches and searched online for examples of visually-cool PowerPoint-style presentations.
“The first one I did was about microfinance,” recalls Albert. “I sketched out my own headings, charts and tables and included animations. It got a great response – two weeks later my boss gave me a promotion. I never expected my love of food would benefit my career.”
Ruthie has been a receptionist at a hotel in central Bristol for the past eighteen months. The love she has for her job is evidenced by the special treats she makes for her customers.“It started as something to do during down time at the front desk,” explains Ruthie. “I’ve been creating origami for about six years. I realised that I could use my interest to make the hotel and our guests’ experience more fun.”
When guests make a booking in the hotel restaurant, Ruthie adds her personal touch: a beautifully folded origami animal that she places on their table. The animals are designed to hold the booking tag and they always surprise and delight guests.
“I realised that I could use my interest to make the hotel and our guests’ experience more fun.”
“My boss could see how much our guests loved the animals,” says Ruthie. “They kept getting mentioned on review sites, so last year he asked me to create all the decorations for the lobby Christmas tree. Best project ever!”
“I thought it was such a shame,” recalls Jess, a registered nurse from Bristol. “I could maybe understand the health concerns, but they were just so lovely.”Jess is referring to the ban on live flowers in many hospitals around the UK.“I wanted to do something to bring some colour back.”
One afternoon, a patient on the ward remarked that there were no flowers. “When I told him why, he was shocked,” says Jess. “And then he told me what he did. That’s when I had the idea.”
“I knew I had to do something to bring some colour back.”
Jess’s patient was a visual merchandiser at a shopping centre, who used fake flowers in his displays. Jess proposed asking the stores to donate their used flowers. They agreed and the hospital took delivery of its first batch within weeks.
“The local radio station did a story about it which was nice,” says Jess. “But I was just happy to see our patients smiling again.”
Click here to learn more about creative thinking and put your skills into action with our real-world exercise.