With the speed of change across the creative industries moving at a faster pace than ever before, the need for companies to stay ahead of the curve is vital.
In reality, it’s a double-edged sword situation. We are by no means in a short supply of talent, with more graduates, school leavers and professionals from all walks of business moving towards a career in the industry accounting for more than 1.7 million jobs in the UK today.
Though with this growth in mind, it raises the question of how businesses are nurturing their teams. To ensure growth, it’s essential that they establish internal systems and processes which enable the development and nurturing of existing and future talent beyond their job specification.
Weve seen this as part of business strategies for some time, especially for a large number of big organisations. For instance, it’s been commonplace predominantly across the pond, as weve seen behind-the-scenes at global giants such as Google, Facebook and Microsoft.
In his attempt to nurture talent, Steve Jobs famously completely overhauled the Pixar offices to improve collaboration bringing together designers and computer technicians – that were once separated by different buildings. This developed into a much wider strategy to build creativity, with the introduction of a single cavernous office to let creativity and collaboration flow.
Its a trend that is slowly but surely migrating across the UK. Mind Candy; for example, have embraced their inner child with the design, feel and facilities on offer at its Capital-based HQ, as a means to ensure creativity is always at the forefront of its teams working day.
Lessons and inspiration
Granted, companies like these have a little more money to play with than the majority of us. Though theres a lesson to be learnt, and inspiration to be drawn, from their approaches to giving their talent the right environment and facilities to grow.
For us, our R&D investment which we call Rawnet Labs was especially designed with the team, our clients, and the future of the industry in mind. Its where we foster innovation to build products and technologies that will help marketers, and advance the state of digital.
Im a firm believer that that the best way to develop as a company and create fresh ways of thinking for the benefit of our clients is to isolate projects where failure is embraced until a solution is found.
It carries psychological advantages too. By creating a space which allows designers, developers, and project managers to take a step away from their desks can help them to see potential challenges and obstacles in a new light. Its also a space that were able to invite our clients in to, guide them through the process and thinking of their campaigns, and let them see the ideas come to life themselves.
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All the learnings within our labs environment are then distilled into technology, products and IP – and we feed it directly back to clients to drive conversation and challenge them to strive for even better from us. We identify emerging technology and ideas and utilising the brilliant staff we have to help push us an agency to the next level – that directly helps our clients achieves more.
In reality, building a dedicated space to nurture talent isnt always feasible. It requires time, investment, and man-power which not every business can dedicate resources too.
Creativity breeds creativity
Though there are things than can be done without having to create a physical space at all.
Creativity breeds creativity. If you harness and implement a creative way of thinking, structuring time, and really appreciate the talents you employ the rest will follow.
Make your employees assets your key focus and always bear in mind how fundamental they are to your business. Encourage them to take the time to be creative, build their knowledge of the industry both past and present, to think outside of the offices four walls, and give them the time to exercise their talents though dedicate time for them to do so during their working hours. Its an approach we take, making sure that every member of the team only ever has 80 per cent of their time dedicated to client work, with the remaining 20 reserved for their own personal development.
Get to know their interests outside of the nine-to-five. Is your account director really a budding artist in their spare time Or do you have keen photographers in your team These are all skills that may potentially bring a new string to your businesss bow.
Giving your team the right facilities, or head space, to grow their expertise and creative talents comes with a whole raft of advantages for a business, though inviting your clients in to this space too can take this further.
Adam Smith is managing director and owner of Rawnet.
