You have a staff of people with different backgrounds and experiences - a diverse group that has a lot to offer if given the chance. Think of the possibilities for creativity and innovation. Most workplaces don't even think about ways to bring out the creativity in their employees and they are missing out on a vast array of improvements and innovations that are wasting away in the minds of their workforce. Why not make a few simple changes and start harnessing the creative side of your employees. 1. Once a week, ask your employees to think of one way to make their job more efficient or productive. Tell them the best idea will win one hour off on Friday. This will start the creative juices flowing. At the end of the week, review the ideas and award the prize. Then, decide which ideas are realistic and implement them. Chances are that most of the ideas will improve their productivity and the company's bottom line.

2. Have weekly brainstorming meetings. Tell them that there are no bad ideas and then go to work on the dry erase board. When employees finally have the opportunity to voice their opinions, you will be surprised what comes out. In addition, employees will work off one another and expand and improve each other's ideas. It's best to have at least a general topic in these meetings or the meeting could lose focus.

3. Make a suggestion box. Sometimes the best ideas are left untold because the employee was either shy or afraid to open up a sensitive topic. The suggestion box will give them the anonymity they need to bring forward their idea. Not all employees are comfortable with speaking in groups and this lack of confidence could cause the organization to lose out on a groundbreaking opportunity.

4. Meet with employees one-on-one in regularly scheduled meetings. Many employees don't like to speak in front of groups but they still want credit for their ideas. Also, some employees are just more comfortable speaking in a small group or one-on-one. Take advantage of this format to follow-up on ideas and get the most out of their creativity.

5. Create innovation teams. Innovation teams are smaller teams of three to four people in charge of creating new ideas on a particular topic. Assignment them an area that needs improvement through creativity then have them report back to you or better yet to the entire work group, so that more ideas can be suggested.

Creativity and innovation in the workplace can found in every one of your employees. You have worked hard to hire a diverse group of people with a wide variety of experiences. Don't waste this valuable resource.

Charlie Bentson King is a writer and producer of motivational training videos for TrainingABC. TrainingABC is a distributor of programs such as Celebrate What's Right with the World and Everyday Creativity.