Tight deadlines can cause creative blocks.

• Position: Your Life - Brief Article

Looking for a bright idea? Give yourself some time. In a survey of advertising and marketing executives by The Creative Group, a specialized staffing service that provides marketing, advertising, creative, and Web professionals on a project basis, 47% of respondents said tight deadlines are the most-common source of creative blocks for their employees. Lack of inspiration was the second-most-prevalent (14%).

"Innovative ideas are the driving force behind every successful business. Therefore, managers should do their best to cultivate employee creativity," suggests Tracey Turner, executive director of The Creative Group. "Padding schedules to allow for brainstorming sessions and other creative exercises help staff members break away from day-today activities and gain a better sense of the big picture."

She offers the following tips for maximizing creative output:

Make it business as...