Passion projects can yield bold answers. The company 3M encouraged employees to engage in projects outside of their normal scope of work. The result? The “sticky note” that took off like wildfire and quickly became a staple in every office across the globe. Passion projects also build team spirit and help team members see each other in new ways.

For You

For one week, set aside one hour a day for a personal passion project. Think small — like learning how to knit. Or think big — like starting on that novel you always wanted to write. At the end of the week, see how you feel. It’s fine to wrap things up. But if you feel motivated to keep going, terrific!

For Your Team

Choose one day a week with at least a 3-hour block that is labelled: PASSION PROJECT TIME. Post this on all team member calendars. Encourage team members to explore projects on their own — or team up with others! Make yourself available for “office hours” to listen to ideas.