The
Psychological Environment
A leader can influence creativity through the workplace by understanding
what motivates the individual and by allowing autonomy in decision-making.
A leader can match the right person to the right job by assign
responsibilities that make the most of their expertise, creative
thinking skills and motivation. Responsibilities become motivational
when they engage a person’s competencies and values. Creative
people are naturally invested in the outcome of their work due
to intrinsic rewards, such as fulfillment of self-actualization
and interest in the work.
A leader can allow autonomy in decision making by being specific
about the ends, but leaving the means to the employees. By making
decisions, the employee is responsible for his choices. By allowing
the employee to choose the means, they will see it as a sign of
respect for their expertise. People are unlikely to be at their
creative best when deadlines are arbitrary or impossible to meet,
or when they lack the resources to do the job well. Creativity
prospers when it is provided with sufficient time and resources.
The most effective leaders have excellent skills in listening,
conflict resolution and consensus building. They create an open
environment that facilitates candor and integrity. They challenge
the status quo and support risk taking and innovation.
The leaders of successful innovation have an optimistic outlook;
they are comfortable with change and view setbacks as bumps on
the road to success. They are also experts at picking out projects
that will challenge, but not break their teams. Innovative leaders
are great planners, they adopt long term horizons and work politically
to get support. They elicit the strengths of their teams by practicing
participative management. They gain respect of peers by being
prepared and professional when making presentations. (Harvard
Business Essentials 2003)
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