Unleashing Your Remarkable Potential
Issue 6.24 - June 15, 2009 ISSN: 15516571

In Kevin's Own Words

Five Reasons Creativity Matters to Leaders

Two of the most popular topics of workshops and business books are creativity and leadership.

Both are popular because at some deep intuitive level most everyone knows they are both are worthwhile skills to have and to develop. However, while both are important and valued, they aren't always talked about in tandem.

Does creativity require leadership? Not necessarily.

Does leadership require creativity? Only if you want to be truly successful.

Why is that? Why do the best leaders exhibit and use creativity to create great results?

I can think of at least five reasons why the very best leaders are highly creative; any one of which should be reason enough for all leaders to focus on valuing and using creativity more often.

Five Reasons Creativity Matters

Creativity is inherent in the leadership role. I often say and write that the status quo requires no leadership. This is a profound truth. Everything about your role as a leader is about creating new and better results and moving in a direction towards a desired future. Without creativity it will be difficult to identify that future destination, and impossible to reach it. While you may not have thought about it in these terms, you can't successfully lead others to any place new without the use of creativity.

Creativity creates new ideas. Duh. But the obvious can't be overlooked! Perhaps another way to say this is that creativity allows us to take advantage of opportunities. If you are leading people towards new product development, new markets, new anything, then leading with creativity is required! You can't achieve new things without new ideas, and as a leader you must be at the front of thinking creatively about these opportunities.

Creativity creates energy and momentum. Have you ever gotten excited about a new idea? Have you ever felt the adrenaline rush and subsequent productivity that comes with it? If you have, then you know exactly what I mean. When we are personally exercising our creativity, we get those short and long term bursts of energy. More importantly, when we work with our teams in creative endeavors, the energy is shared and expanded across the group, and that shared energy can create powerful forward momentum.

Creativity provides solutions. Have a problem? (What business or organization doesn't?) Creativity is required to determine the root cause of the problem and to identify solutions. You can't solve a problem with the same thinking that caused it. We need to bring our creativity to the table whenever we are solving a problem.

And One More

These first four reasons have talked about the leadership value of creativity, but they've been largely focused on personal creativity. The last reason why creativity matters to leaders isn't about you but is about those you lead.

Creativity engages everyone and creates ownership. In the end your creativity isn't enough. A great leader uses his/her creativity in private, but in public focuses first on engaging, encouraging and stimulating the creativity of others. Our job isn't to come up with the great idea on our own, but rather to create an environment where great ideas and creativity is nurtured and the ideas flow from the team.

Potential Pointer: Leaders are constantly moving towards and searching for better results and new opportunities. To achieve those things requires personal creativity and the ability to draw out the creativity of others.

Kevin's Recommends

Four New Teleseminars to Help You Reach Your Goals

Over the next two weeks I am leading three new teleseminars and hosting/facilitating a fourth.

For some of you, all four will be valuable. For all of you at least one will be.

Take a look at each of the brief descriptions below, and click on the links to learn all of the details and most importantly, invest some time in yourself and your development by registering for at least one*.

You'll be glad you did!

The Great Leadership Performance Enhancer
June 16, 2 pm ET.

Back by popular demand, this teleseminar will help you realize the value of and learn how to maximize the results from a 360 assessment. Whether you have done one before, are considering one in the future or are scared to death of the thought of this assessment process, you will want to be on this call.

Creating Your Leadership Pipeline
June 18, 2 pm ET.

If you have any role or interest in creating other successful leaders within your organization, if you want to help design or improve your leadership development process, or if you want to apply those ideas to your own personal development, this call is for you! Invite others in your organization who are interested in developing your future leaders to register as well.

Lessons From the Best Business Books of All Time
June 22, 1 pm ET.

I will be hosting and facilitating this interactive interview with Todd Sattersten, co-author of the bestseller The 100 Best Business Books of All Time. Todd's also the President of 800-CEO-READ , the nation's preeminent business book reseller. Registering for this call also gives you the very first available access to Todd's brand new ebook - How to Read a Business Book. If you love business books or if you want to decide what to read first (or next), this teleseminar is a must attend!

Creating The Business You Desire
June 26 - 2 pm ET.

This call is designed for coaches, trainers or consultants who want to improve their business results and lifestyle, or someone considering a starting a business in one of these areas. Prompted by the calls and questions I get regularly, I have created this teleseminar to share valuable tools and ideas to help you grow your business successfully. This call isn't for everyone, but if you're a coach, trainer or consultant - or would like to be - please join us!

Here's what one of our regular teleseminar attendees says:

"Kevin's teleseminars have had an impact on me personally, had a positive impact on my management style and, obviously, that has had an impact on my career and the people who are around me." ~Chuck Stickney, Toyota & Lexus Financial

*Even if you have a calendar conflict, you can still register for Performance Enhancer, Leadership Pipeline or Creating the Business You Desire and have access to a replay line for several days after the call. So register today!

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