And employees are supported to learn from mistakes when and as they happen. Positive humor helps to transform an embarrassing moment into a great opportunity for everyone to learn from each other's mistakes. So let's return for a moment to conformity such as dress codes and how these link to diversity and the level of creativity alive and contributing positively inside our lives and our businesses. Even our traditional business dress code strongly reinforces conformity. There is a growing trend for the most innovative teams to dress casually in ways that encourage and allow individuals to be themselves, first in dress and then in behavior.
People seem to bring more of themselves to work when they can wear what they enjoy.
3M and other companies known for their creativity, openly protect mavericks and their eccentricities to emphasize the value thinking differently brings to the business. One man literally parked in an unauthorized place and brought his parrot to work. When challenged, the CEO explained that yes, this did create internal problems. But it still was a small price to pay considering the benefits of the creative ideas that paid off in increasing profits. It also increases enthusiasm for shared work.