We are all born creative - but life, learning and the workplace can knock it out of us.

How do you get leaders and colleagues to welcome change and work with you on introducing new ideas and solutions?

Here's five of our secret techniques - given away to you for free!

1: MATCH THEIR IDEAS TO STRATEGY

This sounds obvious but is where so many things go wrong. Work with people to identify if there's really a problem that needs solving before you go off creating anything. If you can match the problem to a strategic need then you're on the first step to helping them build a persuasive case that the organisation will welcome - rather than seek to repel.

2: COACH THEM - LITTLE AND OFTEN

Once you've done the first bit it's time to get creative. But before that people will need a little help. Most people's thought processes are completely immersed in day to day operations. They may be stuck, scattered or unfocused. Coach them to think 10X bigger about the problem. How would they tackle it with unlimited resources and no constraints? Work back from there.

3: TAKE THE HARD WORK OUT OF IT

This is something us guys in the Lab and Insight teams swear by. Remember leaders - and other colleagues - are very very busy. They've got a real job to do and things are more pressurised than ever. It's your job to make it really easy for them. Help them with notes , mock up the concept, make it look pretty. They need to find it exciting and enjoyable - not a slog.

4: SUPPORT AND BUILD ON IDEAS

This is a key point - it's about THEM being creative not you. Their ideas not yours. Inspire them and challenge them - but it's all about their problem and getting them invested in a new solution. Don't take it away from people or takeover.

5: DE-RISK IT

A lot of things fall before this point as someone will say we can't do that because of:

regulations
health and safety
finance
board
brexit

It's your job to help people negotiate this in a safe way. When one of our teams wanted to test out a drone for roof surveying we did all the leg work with our governance teams. Working together we found a safe way around it. Don't let people talk themselves out of a solution. You could be walking away from a major breakthrough!

We'll publish another five tips next week