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Fostering a Creative Climate

March 25, 2003

"Managers must use their power and influence to develop a creative climate at work.  Use the following checklist to see how you are doing.  Ask yourself if you

1. Encourage open expression.
2. Discourage criticism and aggressive reactions between team members.
3. Confirm successes and avoid punishing mistakes.
4. Delegate authority and responsibility.
5. Listen to and believe another person's ideas until proven wrong.
6. Stimulate fun and wild ideas by thinking-up.
7. Create diverse problem-solving groups.
8. Ask people to be creative.

Truly innovative leaders set goals and  directions in partnership with other organization members; they provide resources so that innovative people have the time and equipment for resolving problems; they reduce time pressures for arriving at the successful completion of a project, but decide on realistic checkpoints to help everyone stay on track;  they find ways to confirm successes and enhance positive feelings that show employees that they are valued and empowered (Stephan, 2002, p.63-64)."

Reference:  Stephan, E. G. (2002).  Powerful leadership: how to unleash the potential in others and simplify your own life.  Upper Saddle, NJ:  Financial Times Prentice Hall Books.

What are you doing to foster a creative environment?

Powerful Leadership is available on loan from the Ohio State University Leadership Center.  A complete listing of all the Leadership Center's resources is available on our website http://leadershipcenter.osu.edu/

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Created: 2008-12-22, Updated: 2009-01-09