When British fashion designer Ozwald Boateng was tasked with creating new uniforms for British Airlines, he didn't sequester himself in his studio and invent designs out of thin air. Instead, he began by meeting with employees -- baggage handlers, engineers, flight captains, and more. He asked what they expected and wanted. Ultimately, Boateng decided to call his designs a "collection," rather than just uniforms, to stoke staff enthusiasm.

It's a telling tale: Sometimes, as a leader, the best way to spark creativity is to go straight to the front line -- to spend time with employees across the company, and if your business is international, across the globe. Especially if you're experiencing a creative block, a tour of your office can ignite ideas and solutions.

We all face creativity blocks. But here are some ways you can seek out inspiration from your colleagues get out of a rut:

Volunteer to be the notetaker

In the past, leaders could get away with problem-solving and decision-making by consulting a small circle of advisers. Today, the nature of work has changed, along with the nature of problems. Technology is advancing more rapidly than ever, customers have higher expectations, and, of course, global issues like climate change are more pressing than ever. Increasingly complex problems require increasingly innovative solutions.