I think to begin to define what it means to be a creative leader, it’s useful for us to think of ourselves as creative beings, what types of leaders we want to have for ourselves, and how we can find and become the leaders we as creatives want to see.
Too often, creativity in general is a quality limited to artists and designers - something that one is born with, that one either has, or does not. If we’re not “artistic” - if we have convinced ourselves we can’t draw, play an instrument, or write a story - we resign our need and ability to be creative to those who are decidedly artistic. But to limit the act of creating an original idea or piece of work to art alone is not just a simple misunderstanding of the word, but can and has had negative long-term consequences in our values and priorities, both as a society and as individuals.
To use a personal example, while design is my career, and I have done art in various forms well into adulthood, I do not always feel that creative outlets are available to me in the way they have been in the past. While design may be perceived as a creative role, in a corporate environment, the opportunity to truly make something new, or the flexibility needed to realize an original idea, is not something that happens often. Generally speaking, as one gets older, inevitably responsibilities get in the way, time constantly feels limited. I find myself doing much less drawing, painting, playing music, and other creative hobbies I used to do regularly.
However, I began to notice that on days when I do make the time to prepare a meal from scratch, the effect on my mood is clear. Often that would be the one creative activity I would do that day, and that process satisfied a need we too often neglect when we don’t recognize ourselves as creative beings, and creating as a muscle that needs to be used and strengthened.
While I am learning to recognize the different forms in which creativity can manifest, it took time to realize that cooking could be a creative process rather than just a necessary task.
This is where good leadership comes in - the understanding that opportunities for creativity are everywhere, the ability to recognize the strengths of others, and knowing how to encourage and cultivate those strengths. Attentive teachers are a great example of this type of leadership in action - especially those who work with children and teens, when students are still in their most formative years and are most in need of positive encouragement, as well as those who give special attention to the students who need it most. I think many of us who have favorite teachers, mentors, managers, or influential family members in our lives, remember those who recognized something in us and provided the encouragement and validation we all need. This is something I feel is sorely lacking in adulthood and in work environments - leaders who do not simply manage from the top down, but who act as hosts - truly aiming to support and lift up their subordinates in the ways that they need in order to grow and be successful.
However, rethinking our notion of leaders as individuals at the top of an established hierarchy, we can take these ideals of what we want our leaders to be, and exemplify them to become creative leaders ourselves, providing encouragement and guidance to those around us.