The benefits of creativity in the workplace are impressive, far-reaching, and seemingly immeasurable. Fostering creativity at work cultivates a positive company culture where team bonding is encouraged, employee productivity soars and innovative thinking flourishes. At its best, creative thinking can disrupt entire industries. Without this, organizations stagnate, employees lose interest in the company’s growth, and the market swiftly makes room for other companies with new ideas to take hold. 

So, how can creativity be inspired in the workplace to help drive innovation? We spoke to a leading expert on this topic, Jon Carmichael, to help you and your organization harness the power of creativity and innovation. 

Carmichael is a globally acclaimed astrophotographer who captured the world’s attention with what many regard as one of "history's most remarkable photographs." His stunning image of the 2017 Great American Eclipse, taken from an airplane at 39,000 feet, came to fruition after years of meticulous planning. The thrilling story behind the photograph and the challenges he overcame to capture it have fueled his journey to the keynote stage where he reflects on creativity in his work and how his story can inspire audiences around the world.

As a world-renowned photographer, can you tell me a bit about your journey to the keynote stage? 

“My transition into speaking happened unexpectedly. My first speech ever was in 2018 when Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter, threw me on stage in front of thousands of Twitter employees after Elon Musk canceled his keynote.” Since then, Carmichael has leaned into the keynote space as other organizations began reaching out to book him. He reflects on how serendipitous it is that he spent 17 years photographing corporate and political events, including Barack Obama and many corporate CEOs, and then had the opportunity to take the stage himself. 

From years behind the scenes with influential speakers, Carmichael learned “there seems to be a pattern that those that are most authentic off stage are also the best on stage.” So he focuses on being his most authentic self in every facet of his career — something you can feel from just one conversation with Carmichael. 

In your keynotes, you emphasize the importance of wonder and imagination. How can organizations cultivate these qualities to drive innovation within their teams?

“You always hear about companies talking about innovation but the missing link is curiosity.” Carmichael emphasizes that for an organization to succeed in creating a culture of curiosity and creativity, it has to begin with the leaders. “The best leaders ask a lot of questions and make their employees feel included and important. They do that by being curious to hear their point of view.” 

Carmichael urges this approach as a means to create a culture of connection and unity. When you have a company that is united, cares about each other, and is curious about how they can be better as a company, it opens the door for innovation to be possible.

Have you seen any creative ways in which organizations have incorporated these concepts into their company culture?

"Companies like Google pay their employees to have fun.”  Carmichael expresses how important it is for companies to encourage the playfulness that we all felt as children. Children have no limits on their imagination and sense of wonder, but somewhere along the way, we lose touch with it. Carmichael urges that it is important to tap back into that childlike sense of wonder, even in the workplace. Google creates playground-like spaces on their campuses while other companies reward failure as a necessary step on the path to innovation. If failure and taking a chance to try new things are not accepted, innovation cannot prosper.

What do you see as the downside if organizations fail to foster a culture that encourages creativity, wonder, and imagination?

“If you create a culture of rigidity and intimidation, your employees will end up disconnected from each other. They’ll be there just to make ends meet and pay bills, without caring about the company’s growth.” With disengaged employees, creativity and innovation are lost. 

Having worked with well-known companies and celebrities, what common traits have you observed in groups that successfully implement your strategies for fostering creativity and innovation?

“Curiosity is contagious, and being curious about other people and asking questions can be infectious. Even someone like former President Barack Obama was always asking questions and didn't have the mindset of knowing it all. It’s all about bouncing ideas off of one another, being curious about their point of view, and having an open mind to that.” 

Looking back on your journey, what moments stand out as particularly pivotal in shaping your approach to creativity?

"For ten years, I was working on my landscape and astrophotography artwork but I never showed anybody my work. I never printed a single image. My dad’s passing really hit me hard because I realized I’d never be able to share my artwork with my dad.” Carmichael then decided to learn the entire printing process and was set on sharing his work with the world. 

In a twist of fate, “Elton John ended up hearing about my story through this miraculous grapevine and he happens to be the biggest collector of photography in the world. After nine months of working on my first prints, the day that the prints were done happened to be my meeting with Elton.” Carmichael brought all 10 of his best prints from the last decade to Elton John’s house and he became the first collector of Carmichael’s prints. 

Carmichael now sees Elton John as a mentor and they’ve built a lasting friendship. They connected over mental health struggles and their creativity as an avenue for coping. Seeing someone of such high status dealing with similar struggles was eye-opening. Shortly after, Carmichael encountered a creative block after feeling the pressure from the outside world to produce more work and was able to lean on Elton John for guidance. As Elton John put it, “You have to find your core self again and not worry about what people’s expectations are. You need to redevelop your own curiosity from within.” As Carmichael reflects on this moment he emphasizes how important it was to hear that message at that time. 

“The best creativity comes from authenticity and that's not just with artwork, that’s with creative ideas within your business and organization as well.”

How do you approach the balance between planning ahead and being organized while also allowing room for spontaneity and creativity in your work?

"Finding that balance has been a lifelong struggle. I've always been very spontaneous, but recently read Atomic Habits by James Clear and developed a morning routine that lasts for 3-4 hours. I meditate, eat well, exercise, and organize my to-do list and thoughts. This routine gives me the freedom and space to allow for spontaneous creativity.” While this may seem counter-intuitive, Carmichael points out, having a set routine allows for his downtime to be mentally uncluttered which is the ideal environment for creativity to thrive.

Are there any upcoming projects or adventures you're particularly excited about? 

As an eclipse chaser, Carmichael is always planning for the next eclipse. He is also working on a documentary film about his first eclipse story, so keep an eye out for that.

Carmichael underscores the essential role of curiosity, creativity, wonder, and awe as catalysts for innovation in any workplace. Through his experiences with renowned leaders and global icons, Carmichael advocates for a workplace culture that actively embraces these traits and encourages failures. His insights, drawn from personal challenges and triumphs, resonate deeply, offering organizations a blueprint to inspire a culture that can lend itself to sustained growth and success. To book Jon Carmichael for your next event, contact Executive Speakers Bureau today.