For Leaders Who See Their Teams' Untapped Creative Potential...
As a leader who cares deeply about your team's wellbeing and potential, you've likely noticed something concerning happening…
That natural spark of creativity that once energized your team seems to be dimming…
You see it in:
-
Once-vibrant brainstorming sessions that now feel heavy and forced
-
Your most creative team members carrying an increasingly exhausting innovation load
-
The quiet resignation in team members' eyes when faced with new challenges
-
Solutions that used to flow naturally now taking three times longer to emerge
-
Growing emotional exhaustion, even as you try to protect your team from burnout
It's not just about productivity - it's about watching the joy and energy slowly drain from a team you care about.
It's as if an invisible force has blocked your team's natural ability to solve problems and generate fresh ideas. And according to recent organizational performance research from Vietnam National University, there's a direct link between employee creativity and their ability to resolve problems and develop new solutions.
Put differently, when teams can't access their natural creative abilities they can’t innovate and help organizations prosper.
The Hidden Force Blocking Your Team's Innovation
Hi, I'm Karen Mayer, and my journey to helping teams reconnect with their creativity began in an unexpected place - an art gallery I opened in 2010 after leaving the corporate world.
There, surrounded by artists and art enthusiasts, I witnessed something profound: how people's natural creative abilities had become blocked by years of stress, limiting beliefs, and rigid thinking patterns.
This observation led me on a decade-long exploration of creativity and human potential.
Through my work with organizations like McMaster University and countless teams across industries, I've discovered something transformative about how we can help people reconnect with their innate creative abilities…
… Abilities we ALL possessed as children but many of us have lost touch with along the way.
What I'm about to share isn't just another corporate training program - it's a gentle but powerful approach to helping your team rediscover their natural creative confidence and innovation potential.
But before I reveal this breakthrough, you need to understand what's really happening to your team...
The "Performance Flow Barrier" Phenomenon
Think of your team's creative capacity like a river… But not just any river.
This is a river of pure innovative potential that flows through every organization. The truth is that most teams aren't even in the water.
They're standing on the shore watching others innovate while feeling disconnected from their own creative abilities…
… or paddling in boats following predefined steps but never truly connecting with their creative source…
… And some even swim against the current. Put differently, they’re working hard but not effectively, not accessing their natural creative flow. Why?
Because just as a river's flow can become blocked by debris and sediment, your team's natural creative energy gets blocked by accumulated stress, limiting beliefs, and workplace pressures. But there's an even deeper truth.
Before we can clear these blocks, we must first help your team reconnect with their fundamental creative source. Because if we don’t do that, your team will remain disconnected from their creative source.
Here's what you might be experiencing if that’s the case:
-
Brainstorming sessions are quiet or ineffective, with team members avoiding eye contact, defaulting to"Can you think of something? How did we handle this before? This is impossible. We'll help execute whatever you come up with..."
-
Your teams struggle to develop new solutions, lacking the focus it takes to generate insight.
-
Talented innovative employees burning out from being the only ones expected to generate innovative solutions
-
Teams reverting to "that's how we've always done it" rather than exploring fresh approaches
-
Rising frustration levels when faced with new challenges or unexpected problems
… or maybe you’re seeing your team:
-
Hitting a plateau in their innovative thinking
-
Succeed with incremental improvements yet there is no beneficial impact for your company
-
Have good problem-solving abilities that could become extraordinary
-
Eager to move from effective to exceptional performance
-
Desire to stay ahead of market changes rather than just keep pace
And here's what makes this even more concerning...
You see, while many teams work hard to boost their creativity, something deeper is often missing. Here's what research from the Global Scientific Journal revealed:
There's a fundamental connection between employee creativity and how organizations perform. But what’s truly fascinating about this research was the discovery that organizations nurturing both employee creativity and wellbeing see remarkable improvements in their ability to innovate and perform.
Think about what this means for your team... Instead of just working harder and paddling against the current, if you will, your team could be flowing naturally with their creative abilities. And when teams reconnect with their authentic creativity, they don't just solve problems…
… They transform how they approach (and overcome) every challenge!
This beautiful connection between creativity, wellbeing, and performance inspired me to develop what I call "Flow State Restoration"... a gentle but powerful approach that helps teams progress from standing disengaged on the shore to becoming one with their natural creative flow.
Let me show you how this works through…
The "Grounding, Flow, and Journey" Methodology
A transformative three-step process that helps teams reconnect with their innate creativity and unlock their innovative potential.
Here's how it works:
This is what will allow them in the future to develop new solutions to existing (and old) problems.
What Makes Our Approach Different?
Our methodology is built around a fundamental truth: every person and team already possesses natural creative abilities. That’s why my goal is to just change their focus and mindset and then give them any skills they think they need to activate their creativity with joy. And once teams rediscover this natural flow, innovation becomes almost effortless
Here's what makes our approach uniquely transformative:
-
Focus on reconnecting with authentic creativity that already exists within each team member
-
Emphasis on sustainable creative practices that grow stronger over time vs one-off activities.
-
Evidence-based methodology supported by creativity research
-
Perfect balance of individual growth and team development
What This Could Mean For Your Team
Performance Improvement
-
Enhancement in overall organizational performance
-
Significant positive relationship between employee creativity and innovation capability
-
Measurable improvements in problem-solving capabilities and team engagement
-
Enhanced collaboration and notably higher retention rates
Long-Term Impact
-
Develop a culture of sustainable innovation
-
Build creative confidence across your entire team
-
Enhance team dynamics and communication
-
Create lasting transformation in how teams and individuals approach challenges
Immediate Benefits
-
Break through creative blocks that slow down innovation
-
Transform team tension into creative momentum
-
Enhance problem-solving capabilities across all levels
-
Reduced stress of team members equipped with self-care tools
Real Results from Real Teams
"Once upon a time I painted. The last few years I've only been doing paint by numbers because even picking a colour gives me anxiety. I really enjoyed how no one person was put on the spot so you had no choice but to let go of control... Thank you. I needed those laughs more than you could know."
- C. (Participant)
"Collaborating with my team in a lighthearted activity! Super fun!"
- S. (Participant)
"Team bonding with the portraits - so fun. Very enjoyable - Thank you!"
- A. (Participant)
"Play was much needed... It was much more fun than expected."
- J. (participant)
"I think the first activity with our eyes closed really helped foster trust, and allowed us all to be judgement free."
- S (participant)
"[I loved] hearing the team laugh! Nice links between creativity and health."
~ Sandra Moll, Professor, School of Occupational Therapy
Two Flexible Ways to Transform Your Team
(so they can “become the river”)
Spark Your Creativity
Collaborative Experience
(3-hour team workshop)
Perfect for teams seeking:
-
Quick yet powerful team reconnection
-
Fun, accessible way to observe team dynamics
-
Immediate boost in creative confidence
-
Our signature "Collabartoons" portrait exercise
-
A thoughtful reward for accomplishment
The Creative
Awakening Program
(7-week Intensive)
Ideal for organizations committed to:
-
Deep transformation of team dynamics
-
Building sustainable creative practices
-
Developing authentic innovation capabilities
-
Long-term performance enhancement
-
A meaningful gift that continues to give forever
Both programs are fully customizable to your organization's unique needs and can be delivered either in-person or virtually. Plus all necessary materials are included.
Take the Next Step
Let's have a thoughtful conversation about your team's creative potential. In this complimentary 30-minute session, we'll explore:
-
Where your team's creative energy feels stuck or blocked
-
How your team's unique dynamics could shape their creative reawakening
-
Which pathway to creative restoration would best serve your team's journey
-
Any questions you have about helping your team reconnect with their innovative spirit
This isn't a high-pressure sales call - it's a chance for us to explore together whether this approach could help your team rediscover their natural creative confidence.
To win in the marketplace, you must first win in the workplace." — Doug Conant
Cheers,
Karen Mayer
Common Concerns Addressed
"My team is already overwhelmed..."
.
Our program is designed to reduce stress and generate energy, which most people don't realize that's even possible. We show people how to break the cycle of overwhelm. Teams experience a reduction in pressure through connection with their innate creative and improved creative flow. Many of our exercises are NET time (no extra time) because of the way they are designed. People will discover quickly in our gentle programs that they are already enough.
"We've tried team building before..."
.
Traditional team building and innovation training often fails because it doesn't address the fundamental Performance Flow Barrier. Our research-backed approach creates lasting change by reconnecting people to their creativity source and then removing any barriers or blocks so they are well set up to move forward with confidence.
"We need measurable results..."
Our methodology is supported by research showing direct correlations between enhanced creativity and improved organizational performance. We can establish metrics meaningful to your organization that can be measured before and after successful completion of the training to confirm success in your terms.
"My team is spread across the country. Some teams are in person and some are online..."
.
Our creative workshops are designed with flexibility. We work together with you to determine what combination of virtual sessions and in-person sessions work best for your teams. We can accommodate from very small to large groups. Our signature Collabartoons exercise works best with sets of 4 people. For in-person gatherings, we create an inviting space where everyone has room to move, explore, and express themselves freely. If your organization is larger, we can arrange multiple sessions to ensure everyone experiences the full transformative power of the program. When teams are far apart, we excel at creating an exceptional virtual experience.
"What's included in a program? "
Each corporate or organizational program is custom created to reflect the team, company and market needs. Expert facilitator, artist, entrepreneur, and educator Karen Mayer leads sessions. Our support team of educators are on hand to answer questions and facilitate the sessions. Custom art kits are made for program participants so each person has the tools they need to succeed.
“WIll this work for my team…
Every team's creative journey is unique, which is why we begin with a thoughtful assessment of your specific needs. We weave your industry context, team dynamics, and current challenges into a tailored program that complements your existing initiatives. That’s why I offer a free initial consultation, so we can discuss all the specifics about your team. Book your session by following this link.