Conventional approaches for fostering research productivity, such as recruitment and incentives, do relatively little to develop latent capacities in researchers. Six promising unorthodox approaches are the promotion of regular writing, tools for creativity, good luck, happiness, good health and crowd wisdom. These options challenge conventional ideas about research management. In this article, the author outlines these six unorthodox yet promising approaches. In the conclusion, the author suggests some reasons why approaches to research productivity have been so circumscribed.