8. Allow them to fail sometimes so they can always feel the liberty to take risks.
Risk and creativity dance hand-in-hand. If you want great creative stuff, allow risk and failure to live in your organization from time to time.
9. Understand the importance of relationship.
Invest. Invest. Invest. Then, invest some more. Creative people are going to want to feel they are a part of the process, not a part IN the process. Care as much about them personally as you do about what they create for you and your organization.
10. Create culture that feeds creativity.
Creativity is a muscle and needs to be exercised. Make sure your environment supports your commitment toward creativity.
11. Coach toward creativity.
What you coach develops. If you want people’s creative best, coach them toward creativity. Ask them how they are doing, what is inspiring them, what they’re excited about.
12. Protect them.
Passionately.
13. Mix it up.
Give creative people change-ups so they don’t fall in a rut, lose interest and find something new to do.
14. Remove clutter.
Clutter crushes creativity.
Andy Stanley has been quoted saying: “We treat everyone fair, but we don’t treat everyone the same.”
If you want the best from your creative team, understand that they are comfortable with fair, but they aren’t going to fit into how you treat everyone else. They are unique by design, and it’s what makes them great at creating, innovating and developing for your organization.
If you lead creative people, what are some things you do to help make them their best?
Are you a creative employee? What do you need from your boss or manager?
