At GRADIENT, we don’t just think outside the box; we draw new ones.

And we don’t stop there. We create shapes that are uniquely our own. Our whole-brain thinking approach combines the best of both worlds, bringing together creativity and analytics, strategy and responsiveness, and a willingness to push boundaries and embrace new perspectives.

Here are my top four principles for creating a culture of creativity and innovation:

𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. Empower your team to try new things, take risks, and learn from their failures. For example, motivate your creative team to use tech tools that might otherwise intimidate them. Sure, it may fall flat, but with discomfort comes innovation.

𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. Invest in the tools and resources your team needs to succeed, whether it's training in the latest technologies, creative workshops, or access to industry experts. Host a training session for those creative teams to leverage technology across a host of social media platforms for deeper interaction between brands and consumers.

𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲. Invite a variety of thoughts, experiences, and perspectives. This will lead to a richer, more creative environment that fosters innovation and encourages new ideas. This comes from a team with varied life experiences that can challenge groupthink across genders, ethnicities, and ages. Variety is the spice of life.

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬. Recognize their hard work, and use it as an opportunity to reinforce your culture of innovation and organizational goals. Whether it's through a bonus, promotion, public acknowledgment, or an award for the most effective in-house project, rewarding merit is good for morale.

Innovation can only come from those who are willing to push boundaries and stretch their limits to produce the exceptional. Clients don’t just deserve this from their marketing agencies — 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒊𝒕.