Arndt Klos

More often than not, overly focusing on our process and output is what's causing creative blockage in the first place. To remain creative (on demand), we need constant and diverse input. Lots of it! Something our synapses can have fun with while we sleep, shower, or sip kombucha while gazing at the patterns of our bathroom tiles. Visit a dance performance by Crystal Pite, look up the work of Victor Vasarely, check out a taxidermy exhibition, read a book written by someone you don't like, bake some croissants, imagine a conversation between Lenin, Wolverine and Barbie... Once you've done all of the above, give your brain some rest, and watch the magic happen.

Rule #1 for standing out is not to blindly follow numbered rules. Remember that most of your peers are following the same influencers as you, work off the same Top [random number from 1-10] hack lists, and use AI to generate content cues. Invest some time in thinking your own thoughts, develop your own position on a topic, and find your own voice. Don't expect differentiation to come from standardization.

Technology is just the canvas; it's culture, champions, and meaningful content that bring an intranet to live. The corporate tech stack graveyard is full of stale and soulless intranets with great features and functionalities. Great content in a clunky interface will beat a sleek but soulless app any day.

Like with any other threat to our identity (brand or personal), having developed a strong reputation to begin with is your best defence against any communication crisis. If you consistently demonstrate honest, transparent, and ethical behaviour, others will know what to expect from you, and start trusting you. So that when we do make mistakes – and we all will – friends and customers alike will be willing to forgive us, as long as we own up to our responsibilities and show some genuine remorse.

I've found that there's a lot more diversity of ideas, expectations and individual preferences within any generation than distinct, universal differences between them. And much blurrier lines between generations than sociologists, demographers, media or marketers would like us to believe. Staying open to different opinions, perspectives and preferences wherever they come from will get us further than organizing ourselves into age groups. Engage with team members as individuals, rather than with a prefabricated expectation based on their presumed identity group – generational or otherwise.

Coming from a cultural background where criticism is served in a much more straight up fashion, this one has always been hard for me. Even after 20 years of living in North America, I still often perceive the complimentary layers of this sandwich as decoy and a time waster. If you are unable to raise your criticism in a way that's respectful and demonstrates your care for a shared goal, then dressing it up in niceness isn't going to be the answer for me. Having explored this with other Europeans, I can confirm that this is not an uncommon experience. Curious to hear how people from other cultures experience this approach to offering criticism. Any straight up criticism welcome.