The latest assertions on how we can bend workplace culture toward greater creativity and innovation.
A recent HBR article discusses how leaders have to show they trust employees in order for employees to trust them. It's a very good article that gives sound advice. One point in particular stuck out to me. Managers often lack the self-awareness required to realize...
When you think of great leaders, who comes to mind? Probably someone who had to overcome huge challenges to accomplish something of great worth. In storytelling, that is the definition of a hero. And that seems to fit. Leaders and heroes are often synonymous in our...
In honor of the Jack Covert Award being given to Tom Peters, I thought I would share some of Tom's quotes. Leaders don't create followers, they create more leaders. Celebrate what you want to see more of. Excellent firms don't believe in excellence - only in constant...
Creative leadership is more than the sum of both characteristics: be creative + hold a leadership role. That focuses on an individual's capacity. Effective creative leaders encourage and inspire others to be more creative. Not only is this important, according to Tom...
As you read about creativity and leadership, you may wonder why it matters. Why does it matter in general and to you specifically? There are some words we use so often and broadly that their meaning gets watered down. That's the case with "creativity" and...
I recently read an HBR article from Stanford professor Sarah A. Soule and IDEO director Bryan Walker entitled Changing Company Culture Requires a Movement, Not a Mandate. The article is full of great insights for leading a cultural change in order to transform your...
Life doesn't always go the way we want it. In fact, sometimes it can feel like it rarely does. Unless you're a spectacular hypnotist or sorcerer, you can't control the decisions other people make. You can predict and persuade, but you can't control others. Sometimes...
I've talked about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and its impact on creativity before. It's a powerful model that changed the field of psychology. The needs at the bottom have to be met before the needs above it become relevant and accessible. Patrick Lencioni's model for...
As a follow up to yesterday's post, here is more practical advice from the book UNSTUCK by Keith Yamashita and Sandra Spataro. If you're feeling stuck and wonder what the issue is, the authors suggest looking at the system–instead of focusing on symptoms. A balanced...
When we start something, we envision progress being consistent and continual. A straight line up and to the right. But that's not what happens. The reality is our efforts will have periods of highly productive progress, but also times when it's a slog and it's hard to...
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