Tips for Managing Creative People

http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/workforce-management/2975119-1.html

Chapter 12 in our text discusses understanding and managing creative people. There is an article on allbusiness.com that gives 10 tips for managing creative types. The article states that "managing a group of creative people is challenging but rewarding work." Creative and intelligent thinkers are needed for truly new and interesting innovations. Managers need to be able to deal with these kinds of people in order to continuously improve their products and still maintain a healthy work environment. The first steps are cultivating a creativity-inducing space and giving some structure. It is important to provide employees with an environment that is conducive to their creativity but also to provide enough structure to keep creative employees on track and on schedule. Other steps include giving employees time to dream, stressing the importance of balance, trusting the process, and directing them at your actual problems. Employees should have some downtime and also pay attention to all aspects of their work. It is also important to make sure they stay focused on solving the real business problems through effective communication. The last few tips include being generous with praise, allowing employee input, building a team, and being open to new ways of working. It is imperitive that these creative employees feel good about their work and feel like they are making a difference and are really included in the entire process. Managers of creative people have the challenge of being open to new ideas and innovations while also maintaining efficient business practices. Creative people can be a huge asset to a company and can help produce many beneficial innovations. Therefore, it is important for leaders to be aware of effective ways to manage these types of employees.