Resource Center

When leading for creativity, there are often a number of hidden and known influences that affect the presence and type of creativity produced. The work environment contains a number of intentional and unintentional factors that foster or inhibit creativity. Leaders can greatly impact the creativity (or lack of it) in an organization.

Too often leaders walk away from managing creativity because they feel they don’t have the ability or resources at hand. In reality, many basic people-management practices have been shown to be quite effective in encouraging creativity. Leaders can use these practices to create an intentional drive and culture for creativity.

At its core, leading for creativity is about motivating individuals. We motivate through goals, feedback, rewards, teaching, clearing obstacles and creating vision. Even though we are describing these actions as leading for creativity, these are sound practices of people management in general. In other words, they are indicative of what good leaders do every day.