As much as we try to escape it, a sense of “Work” is part our cultural make-up. Note the capitol “W” signifying the greater social value doing everything you can with all the elbow grease you can muster.

The advances of the Industrial Revolution taught us that machines were the greatest tools but humans needed to make them work, and together they can crank out anything. No deviations or creativity required, unless it’s specific suggestions to improve efficiency.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on one’s point of view, the tech boom has changed this equation.

Now, people are still encouraged to work hard, but also invited to think with innovation and display all sorts of creativity in ways to solve problems, create products and make money. Workplaces are now even being designed to make creative people welcome and let the ideas flow, as well as trying to attract the top brains to one employer or another.

For instance, places like Google’s California campus are notorious for creating buildings with everything from video games to regular catered lunches. There are plenty of perks at working here, but people are expected to work hard in return.

Employers like this are signaling that a shift is occurring in the workforce: though there will always be businesses where everyone must follow the rules as rigidly as a robot, there are others where creativity is encouraged.

Guess what? The latter ones see more satisfied employees who stick around with good morale and ultimately higher productivity.

But getting to this point does require buy-in from all levels.

Design. Many facilities that focus on creativity include open spaces for dialogue but also private meetings for individual reflection or smaller meetings. There’s plenty of stimulating natural light as well.

Management support. Motivating a creative team may require different rules than traditional managers learned. Too little support can be stifling and too much freedom can lead to nothing getting done.

Employee support.  The staff could be expected and encouraged to seek solutions to benefit the company but still work hard.

For more business strategies visit Elevation Financial Group.