An IBM survey some years ago found that the most important leadership quality in today’s world was creativity. It was even more important than integrity and fairness. So how can you work on expressing your creativity and developing your vision?
Continue to grow personally
As a leader, you can’t remain stagnant. The world is changing too fast, and you have to keep up. These clichés say it all: stay ahead of the curve, think outside the box, and don’t drop the ball.
Some ideas to help you continue to grow:
- Read and listen. There is a never-ending stream of business books to challenge you and help with creativity and vision. For example, David Kelley has two great books: The Art of Innovation and Creative Confidence. His message is that creativity is not limited to “creative types.” Similarly, there are numerous podcasts, such as TED talks, you can listen to as a way to “stir your curiosity.”
- Attend webinars and industry events. Listen to what others are saying. They just might inspire you to expand your thinking and widen your vision.
Devote time for thinking
You’ve probably heard the saying “work on your business, not in it.” In order to be creative and have vision for your company, you need to spend time on working on your business. Schedule the time and choose the location for this activity. Decide what works for you (a quiet office, time away from the business in nature) so you can think clearly.
Encourage creativity and vision in your staff
You don’t have to come up with all the ideas yourself. You may gain insight from your employees. Forbes Coaches Council lists 15 ways leaders can promote creativity in the workplace.
Conclusion
As Walt Disney said, “if you can dream it, you can do it.”
So it’s up to you to have the creativity and vision for your business.
This is the sixth blog in a 12-part series on Developing Leadership Qualities. Last month’s blog concerned decision making. Next month’s blog on developing leadership qualities addresses empathy.
