With the world in its current volatile state, the question we’re all asking is how the hell are we going to get out of it?

While none of us can predict the future - especially when the planet is in the grip of a global pandemic - what we do know for certain, is that skills like teamwork, problem solving and creativity are exactly what we’re going to need to get us out of the ongoing challenges facing business, society - and humanity.

And of those skills, according to the World Economic Forum, creativity is right up there - listed as the third-most-important skill for employees in 2020, just behind complex problem-solving and critical thinking.

Recent research by LinkedIn also lists creativity as the top skill companies need, and are increasingly hiring for in the new labour market.

Why? Because companies need to generate innovation to develop new products and services, improve processes and take advantage of opportunities in the market. And to do that they need creative thinkers and idea creators to dream up out of the box solutions.

But how do you develop creativity as a skill? Is it something you are born with? Or can you learn it?

We asked creative and cultural leadership expert Mykel Dixon, who knows better than anyone how thinking and acting outside the box can lead to amazing career opportunities.

Dixon is an award-winning speaker, event curator, musician and author. Self-described as a “musician by trade, gypsy by nature, fierce non-conformist and prolific anti-perfectionist”, he spends much of his working life showing Fortune 500 and ASX 200 listed companies how to unlock breakthrough creativity and equip teams with the skills needed to solve complex 21st century business challenges.

Dixon says in the current economic climate, creativity isn’t just a key driver to future-proof careers. Instead, it’s the critical foundation of a meaningful, successful and fulfilling life.

“Creativity is vital for anyone beginning or thinking about their career. Your ability to think outside the box, to find and form new value, to reinvent yourself in order to stay relevant - these are the defining factors for your success. No matter what industry, department or level you work at, creativity is the missing link hidden in plain sight. And now is the time to double down on your unique brand of innovative thinking,” he says.

“Creativity is a tangible skill. It underpins absolutely everything we do. From how we imagine possible futures, how we get to a meeting on time when our train is delayed, how we adjust and adapt in conversation with a client, or even choose what outfit to wear to a pitch.”

“Think about it. If you’re a potential employer who would you rather hire? Someone who never takes a risk, never tries anything new, never thinks about ways to change or improve their circumstances. Or someone who puts their personality into their work, who is always testing and tweaking new ways of doing things, who is courageous enough to set fire to what was in order to start building what could be.”

Dixon says he was inspired to write his latest book, Everyday Creative: A Dangerous Guide To Making Magic At Work , after working with hundreds of talented, insightful and creative people who believed wholeheartedly that they were not.

“Whether it’s a multinational monolith or a scrappy startup, a government department or a small regional business, almost everyone I meet has a dysfunctional relationship with creativity,” he says.

“They love it, value it and want more of it, but have a deeply ingrained story that creativity is for artists, that it’s fluffy and esoteric and most of all, that they weren’t born with any of it. This of course is not true. And given the state of the world, we need as many people as possible accessing and acting on their natural creative capability.”

So how can you start flexing your creative muscle today?

Here are Dixon’s top tips for fostering creativity:

Stay curious.

“Never accept the only options as the only options.
Always go a little further, stay a little longer, question a little more.
Follow and fuel what fascinates you.”

2. Feel more.

“Trust your instincts and honour your emotions.
There is a great wisdom and intelligence in your body.
Learn to access and leverage it.”

3. Always be making.

“Develop a bias for action.
Always start before you're ready.
You'll learn more about yourself in one hour of making than a year of theory.”

4. Give it all away.

“Don't be stingy with your ideas or expressions. Nothing is original, we are all building on the ideas of others.
Remember that creativity thrives in generosity.
Share as much as you can as often as you can and it will come back to you tenfold.”

Learn more about Future Amp’s online career education modules, employability skills microcredentials and smart futures platform.
Reach out to our team at hello@futureamp.co

Future Amp is backed by Amazon Web Services, Rio Tinto and is currently part of the David Gonski AC-chaired Future Minds Accelerator.

Will creativity be the most critical skill in the future of work?