“The creator must be an outlaw.”
- Philippe Petit
We live in an era where every aspect of our lives is influenced by creativity. It lies at the
heart of human expression and presents itself in many different forms – it is in the music
we listen to, the books we read, the clothes we choose to wear and the meals we prepare.
Although the concept of being creative is somewhat abstract, we are aware that having an
innovative vision adds value not only to the products and services we develop in our
companies, but to our personal lives as well.
“Passion and its companion, inspiration, are critical pieces of the creativity puzzle”, write
Scott Barry Kaufman and Carolyn Gregoire in their book “Wired to create”. Creativity is
meant to challenge the status quo. It inspires new concepts of the way we perceive
everything around us; it enriches people’s lives and enchants customers to engage with our
brands on a different level. It is not a talent you either have or you don’t. It is a skill you
can unfold, a muscle you can train.
Having in mind how turbulent economy is nowadays and the fact that many
businesses are struggling to stand out from their competitors, creativity has become
one of the most cherished assets in forward-thinking firms. Creative leadership and
design thinking are perceived as groundbreaking, because of their ability to form
innovative solutions in rapidly changing situations.
What does it take to be a creative leader? Is it possible to transform the mindsets of the
people you work with on daily basis in order to achieve excellence and crush the
competition? According to Sir John Hegarty, founding creative partner of “Bartle Bogle
Hegarty” advertising agency, a successful manager should be sensitive, passionate,
concerned, committed, and above all – inventive. Furthermore, the Future of Jobs
Report (2016-2020), created by the World Economic Forum, shows that the ability to
solve problems, creativity and emotional intelligence are some of the most important
qualities that employees must possess these days in order to shift the way companies
bringing their ideas to life.
But in order to push the envelope, their leader has to build a sense of belonging, a feeling
that the people he works with are a part of a community, that they are creating something
extraordinary. According to a Harvard study, this process increases net income by 756
percent over seven years. It can be achieved by establishing a safe space where
everyone’s ideas can be heard and where the team has a sense of purpose.
A creative leader is flexible and open-minded – he is someone who is willing to step out of
his comfort zone as often as possible. He embraces the possibility of failure at the early
stages of testing various prototypes, while minimizing the costs in the long run. The
fear of failure will only compromise his creative process. However, by making mistakes
and analysing them, by using design thinking, he and his team will be able to develop a
better product or service that meets the needs and wishes of users.
French artist and TED contributor Philippe Petit thinks of creativity as an intellectual
rebellion, a step out of the ordinary. In addition, a creative leader understands the
importance of thinking outside of the box, of breaking the norm and of inventing new
possibilities beyond everyone’s expectations. If he is not able to escape from the
pattern, which is already created, he will be sucked into a downward spiral.
Approaching the problem from another angle, challenging social norms and taking risks
that result in revolutionary solutions is the way progressive companies tackle the
challenges of advancing a brand.
- Fabrica 360
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Drop us a line at hey@fabrica360.eu if you are looking for a partner to help you with breaking down the silos in your organisation and empowering employees to contribute to innovation.
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Ask a quote for our Service Design Masterclass and Creative Leadership Workshop. Now fully adapted and offered online.
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For more reading and inspiration, visit our Design and Creativity shop.
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