Why most businesses struggle with creativity (and how to fix it)

Creativity is often hailed as the magic ingredient behind breakthrough marketing, powerful branding, and innovative business strategies. Yet, many businesses—despite knowing its importance—struggle to harness it effectively. The question is, why? And more importantly, how do you fix it?

Why creativity gets stifled in businesses

1. The fear of getting it wrong

Many organizations operate in risk-averse environments where new ideas are met with skepticism rather than enthusiasm. The result? Employees avoid pushing boundaries, sticking to "safe" solutions that lead to mediocre marketing and uninspired branding.

Fix it: Encourage productive playfulness—an approach where teams are given permission to experiment, fail fast, and iterate. When creativity feels like a risk-free exercise, it flourishes.

2. The 'we’ve always done it this way' mentality

Rigid structures and outdated processes can kill creative thinking before it even starts. Many businesses rely on tried-and-tested methods, assuming what worked before will work again—until they realize they’ve been left behind.

Fix it: Challenge old ways of thinking by incorporating divergent and convergent thinking exercises in team discussions. Ask: "What if we did it differently?" "What’s a fresh angle we haven’t explored?"

3. Lack of a structured creative process

Many believe creativity is a stroke of genius rather than a structured approach. The truth? The best ideas come from a deliberate process of brainstorming, refining, and testing.

Fix it: Adopt structured ideation frameworks like design thinking, Lego Serious Play, or SCAMPER to help teams generate, evaluate, and refine ideas systematically.

4. Siloed teams that don’t cross-pollinate ideas

When marketing, branding, and product teams work in isolation, creativity suffers. The best ideas often emerge when diverse perspectives collide.

Fix it: Create opportunities for cross-functional collaboration through ideation workshops, strategy sprints, or informal creative meetups.

How to fix creativity in your organization

If any of the above challenges sound familiar, don’t worry—creativity can be cultivated. Here’s how:

1. Train your teams in creative thinking

Creativity isn’t just a talent; it’s a skill that can be developed. Investing in creative thinking workshops helps teams break out of habitual thinking and discover new solutions.

👉 At The Intentional Consultancy, we train businesses to master creative and innovation thinking through hands-on, interactive workshops tailored to real business challenges.

2. Build a culture of creative confidence

Leaders set the tone. Foster a workplace where fresh ideas are welcomed, and failure is seen as part of the learning process.

👉 Tip: Start meetings with a quick creative warm-up (e.g., "Come up with 5 ridiculous ideas to solve this problem"). It trains teams to think beyond the obvious.

3. Integrate creativity into business strategy

Creativity shouldn’t be a side project—it should be embedded in your business and marketing strategy.

👉 Need a strategic approach? Our consultancy helps brands integrate creative thinking into branding, marketing, and communications for stronger business results.

Most businesses struggle with creativity not because they lack ideas, but because they lack the right mindset, processes, and culture to nurture them. By embracing playful experimentation, structured ideation, and cross-functional collaboration, organizations can unlock their creative potential and achieve game-changing results.

💡 Want to transform creativity into a competitive advantage? Let’s talk. Leave us a message at www.theintentionalconsultancy.com.