The Creative Edge

Posted on 21. Jun, 2009 by Trinidad Hunt in Leadership

Today more than ever before we need the creative ideas and efforts of everyone on the team. We don’t need a team of 30 people with only 1, 2 or 3 contributors.

Creativity and innovation do not spring eternal from the heart of organizations. When we do see creative and innovative endeavors springing forth from people you can rest assured that those in positions of leadership nurtured it.

Here’s a quick checklist of things you can do to inspire creative and innovative ideas and developments from your team:
1. Make the atmosphere and environment safe for open dialogue and discussion. This does not mean positioning and posturing but true and authentic exchanges regarding improving our results.

2. Ask people for their ideas. Engage in an annual or biannual ‘Ideas for Improving our Results’ brainstorming session. Prioritize the ideas once you’ve done the basic generating work. Then take action on the “winables” first and the more challenging items as you get better at the game.

3. Welome new and outrageous ideas, engage with them and hear them out. We don’t find new paths by continually revisiting the old.

4. Make experimentation acceptable. The best way to do this is by a controlled method of testing. Experiment within a small group or department and analyze the results. Tweak from there!

5. Make it fun!!! Nobody wants to participate in drugery. People want to be successful, make a difference, and enjoy the process. This doesn’t mean all of our work is fun. But it does mean we can lighten up and turn creativity and innovation to our advantage!

4 Responses to “The Creative Edge”

  1. daniel conwayNo Gravatar

    23. Jun, 2009

    We reviewed these concepts in our leadership meeting this morning. It was very fruitful! We found that we are doing much of it, but the fresh approach gave us some new ideas.

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  2. Trinidad HuntNo Gravatar

    23. Jun, 2009

    These are the game rules of the successful. Glad to know you’re following the right course. Much luck on your endeavor!!

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  3. Lyn GodfreyNo Gravatar

    08. Sep, 2009

    Trinidad: Didn’t have a chance to go to the last of the leadership days in Melbourne so I thought you might like to read my contribution to a LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY:
    WHAT IS A LEADER?
    So what is a leader and what do you need?
    Well the answer is simple, it’s someone to lead.
    And then you will offer them somewhere to go
    That’s worthwhile and valid and will allow them to grow.
    The talents this takes is varied and wide
    But begins with the knowledge of yourself, as a guide.
    Then there’s courage, commitment and faith to go on
    When some that surround you may think that it’s wrong.
    With gentle persuasion or authoritive clout
    The results that you aim for is what it’s about.
    As a leader it’s important to lead from the ground,
    ‘Cos synergy of others is something profound.
    The decisions you make and the time that you share
    Are important to show you’re what you declare.
    The talk that you talk and the steps that you take
    Make your journey through leadership credible and great.

    Lyn Godfrey

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    • Trinidad HuntNo Gravatar

      23. Sep, 2009

      Dear Lyn,
      So glad to hear from you. I missed you on the final day of our leadership conference! Thank you so much for sending on to me your Leadership Philosophy. Well done, my friend! And wrapped up so well in your final lines…
      “The talk that you talk and the steps that you take
      Make your journey through leadership credible and great.”
      Stay in touch and follow the weekly self-reflection…. Would love it if you would continue to shar your results.
      Aloha, Trinidad

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