Workplace: Do Flowers Increase Our Problem-Solving Capacity?

Yes! Flowers definitely increase problem-solving capacity in the workplace. It sounds simple, but it’s really a clear correlation.

Problem-solving requires rote memory of how to solve a particular problem, or, if the problem is new, or is occurring in a new form, thinking outside the box. This thinking outside the box is also known as creativity.

Creativity is not measured. People just know it when they see it. And because it isn’t something that’s measured quantifiably, anything that stimulates the creative juices will help creative solutions.

Stimulating creativity is different for different people. However, you can hedge your bets by covering your bases. Trying different environmental techniques — like lighting, music, sound, textures, temperatures, aromas and visual images in the workplace — will all, most likely, stimulate creativity.

Having flowers in the workplace is an environmental technique to stimulate creativity. Shaking things up and changing environment is a great way to allow the brain to think differently by offering it a different background or environment in which to see things.

You can’t lose with flowers in the workplace. Just replace them when they die! And when you do, move them around the room, vary the colors, arrangements and varieties of flowers, and see if you notice patterns of achievement with different flowers.