Stay in Touch With Your Creative Side

The best people to lead Creatives often started out as Creatives themselves. Sure, you can bring leaders in laterally from outside the creative world, but a lot of times they won't bring an understanding of the Creative's mindset. So if you can, it's usually best to grow leaders from Creatives.

With that in mind, a true Creative won't stop being creative. Very often, though, the demands of a leadership position don't allow time to exercise that creative spirit. That's going to be frustrating, and anything that makes you uncomfortable in your job is going to make it tougher for you to do your job.

So if you feel your creative urges bubbling up inside of you, don't hold them in. Put them to good use. Engage your creative side. Not only will you be happier -- and probably a better leader as a result -- you'll also maintain a better understanding of your Creatives' needs if you're acting as a Creative yourself.

If you can't fit this into your job -- maybe you really don't have time at work, maybe you'd be getting in the way of the Creatives who work for you -- then perhaps you can do it in your spare time. Maybe you can turn it into volunteer work: women's shelters appreciate having hairstylists come in, non-profits can often use free web design help, elementary schools appreciate having free photographers for school events. Your creative expression doesn't have to be the same as what you do for work, it just needs to be something special for you.

And maybe you should take an opportunity to try something new. If you're a fashion designer, try interior design. If you create video games, try writing poetry. Just do something to keep your inner Creative happy.