Creativity is an important trait for effective leadership. Using creative strategies in the workplace can help you develop new processes and solutions. In this article, we define what creativity in leadership is, explain its importance, list strategies for implementing creative leadership and provide some helpful tips to become a more creative leader.
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What is creativity in leadership?
Creativity in leadership is the ability to innovate actionable ideas and inspire others in the workplace to solve problems individually and as a team. Leaders can use creative approaches to generate new business plans, restructure a work environment or make valuable professional connections with other people in their industry. Creativity may also help you make more effective decisions for your team or develop your communication skills by encouraging alternative methods for engaging with others in the workplace.
Why is creativity important in leadership?
Creative leadership can help you create opportunities for success in the workplace for both you and your team. Consider these additional reasons why creative leadership is important:
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Promotes problem-solving: When your team approaches an obstacle, leading them with a creative mindset can help them resolve the issue efficiently.
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Encourages a positive work environment: The creative process can inspire people to voice their perspectives and connect with each other, so being a creative leader may help you develop a constructive and accepting work culture.
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Helps you navigate change: By using creativity as a leader, you can innovate new ideas that align with best practices in your industry. A creative mindset may also prepare you for future changes in your field.
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Generates financial growth: Creativity can strengthen your ability to innovate new business practices and find unique earning opportunities, which may increase overall revenue for your team.
8 strategies for utilizing creativity in leadership
Here are some of the top strategies you can implement to utilize creativity as a leader:
Find professional development resources
Learn about creative leadership from different sources online or in person. By gathering different points of view about creative leadership strategies, you can develop your own nuanced perspective and style of creativity. Try taking a class on creative leadership or attending a seminar on innovation where you can network with other leaders in your field. You could also look for a mentor who exemplifies creative leadership and schedule an informational interview with them to learn about their own strategies for promoting creativity on their team.
Develop your leadership traits
Practice embodying the qualities of a creative leader. Find small ways to be creative at work to build your confidence as you develop your creativity and leadership skills. For instance, you can start adjusting your thought processes throughout the workday by asking yourself questions about why you use certain strategies and what alternative methods you can try. It may be helpful to journal at a designated time each to learn more about your thought process and track your progress toward becoming more creative.
Here are some core qualities of a creative leader to emphasize in your work:
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Enacting change: Creative leaders take action in the workplace to improve policies and develop a positive culture on their team.
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Following instincts: To be a creative leader, refine your instincts when making important decisions and addressing concerns. Use creativity to balance your intuition and ideas with logical solutions.
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Displaying confidence: Express your ideas constructively and confidently share them with others.
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Motivating personal success: Understand what inspires you to grow, learn different ways to approach your responsibilities at work and set ambitious goals.
Include multiple perspectives
Collaborate with individuals from multiple job levels and departments. People may have different backgrounds, skill sets and experiences that allow them to innovate in many creative ways. New ideas often require several participants to develop actionable plans that work for everyone. Encourage people on your team to make important decisions, show initiative while problem-solving and express their point of view on company issues.
Use storytelling techniques
People often tell stories to relay information and foster connections with each other, which is an important aspect of helping your team develop a creative mindset. To learn how to tell stories, try listening to people sharing their own experiences. Ask your colleagues about a hobby they enjoy and focus on how they structure their explanation. Find storytelling videos online that inspire your imagination and determine which elements of the story make it engaging.
Here are a few storytelling elements you can observe and implement in your workplace communications:
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Suspense: Consider how the storyteller manages information to inspire feelings of excitement.
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Structure: Examine how the storyteller establishes a situation, shares their thoughts about it and then resolves any issues they presented.
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Imagery: Focus on the visual elements of the story and how they add value and nuance to the information you learn.
Think of multiple options
When approaching a new project, meet with your team to think of several potential plans. Encourage a creative flow by conducting brainstorming sessions without considering practical limitations like budget and timeline. Once you have a long list of creative ideas, you can adjust them to be more practical and suit business needs. This strategy can help you establish a structure for project creation, allowing your team the opportunity to make improvements and learn new ways to problem-solve. Consider using a shared online document or a whiteboard to visualize and streamline your team’s thought processes.
Refine your ideas
An important part of being creative is finding thoughtful, innovative ways to refine and expand basic ideas. In the next step of a new project, pick some viable options alongside your team and add more details. Determine ways to connect your ideas and form a viable plan of action. For instance, one team member may have an idea about a sales technique and another may have an idea about a social media campaign. You can combine those ideas to employ the sales technique using a social media platform.
Share your knowledge with others
Take part in community events to discuss creative leadership techniques with other people who share your values. Share your personal techniques for being a creative leader and gain feedback about interesting implementations for your methods. This can help nurture your creative skills and find new ways to apply your ideas. Consider joining discussions with moderators or speaking at events to establish your reputation as a creative leader.
Tips for implementing creativity in leadership
Consider the following tips for implementing creativity in leadership:
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Remain flexible: When you discover a new idea or strategy, try implementing it on your next project instead of relying on previous structures. Being flexible and taking chances may help you discover better ways to achieve your goals.
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Schedule time to work on creative strategies: Make creativity a priority in your workday by scheduling time to think about ways to encourage creativity among your team. Choose a time when you can think freely without distractions.
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Maintain a relaxed demeanor: Engage in fun activities and exciting conversations with your team. People often develop new ideas when they feel relaxed and comfortable.
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Stay resilient: If one of your creative ideas has unexpected outcomes or misses the original goal, make a promise to yourself to keep innovating new concepts until you find one that works.
I hope you find this article helpful.
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