This presentation frames creative leadership in terms of servant leadership, and design strategy. What does it take to step up and lead? Stepping up with creative leadership is an opportunity to help leaders (including your boss) see the big picture, think creatively, get the job done and do what is best for the team and the organization. About Linda Naiman Linda Naiman is founder of Creativity at Work, and recognized internationally for pioneering arts-based learning as a catalyst for developing creativity, innovation, and collaborative leadership in organizations. As an innovation consultant and coach, Linda advises senior leaders and managers on developing creativity and innovation skills in employees, and fostering an organizational culture that supports innovation

1. © 2014 Linda Naiman CreativityatWork.com
Presented by Linda Naiman
to the IAAP Fraser Valley Chapter,
June 18, 2014
Stepping up
with Creative
Leadership

2. © 2014 Linda Naiman CreativityatWork.com
Stepping up with
creative leadership
!
An opportunity to lead up,
help leaders see the big
picture, think creatively, get
the job done and do what is
best for the team & the
organization.

3. © 2014 Linda Naiman CreativityatWork.com
Reflecting on
leadership:
How do you define
Leadership?
What is your leadership
story so far?

4. © 2014 Linda Naiman CreativityatWork.com
Some definitions
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Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do
something you want done because he wants to do it.
—Dwight Eisenhower
!
Ninety percent of leadership is the ability to
communicate something people want.
—Diane Feinstein
!
The true measure of leadership is influence
— nothing more. Nothing less.
—John Maxwell
!

5. © 2014 Linda Naiman CreativityatWork.com

6. © 2014 Linda Naiman CreativityatWork.com
The first responsibility of a
leader is to define reality.
The last is to say thank you.
In between the leader is
servant.
—Max De Pree,
Former CEO of Herman Miller, Inc. and author of
Leadership is an Art, Leadership Jazz, Leading without
Power, and Called to Serve

7. © 2014 Linda Naiman CreativityatWork.com
!
How do you develop the
courage to lead?
By stepping up in service to
the greater good.

8. © 2014 Linda Naiman CreativityatWork.com
The servant-leader is
servant first. It begins with
the natural feeling that one
wants to serve, to serve
first. Then conscious choice
brings one to aspire to lead.
—Robert Greenleaf
Framing Creative
Leadership as
Servant Leadership

9. © 2014 Linda Naiman CreativityatWork.com
Servant Leadership
Characteristics
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• Stewards of resources
• Empathize with others
• Foresee the likely outcome of a situation
• Balance creativity and the need to
operationalize day-to-day functions
• Rely on moral persuasion as a basis for
influence
• Consensus-building via dialogue
• A community builder
• Creates an environment of inclusion,
trust, and compassion

10. © 2014 Linda Naiman CreativityatWork.com
Where can you find opportunities for
creative leadership?
Source: IDEO

11. © 2014 Linda Naiman CreativityatWork.comLinda Naiman CreativityatWork.com
Questions that spark creativity
Leaders
Plant
Nurture
Harvest
What If?
What works?What else?
What wows?
Why not?
What Is?

12. © 2014 Linda Naiman CreativityatWork.comLinda Naiman CreativityatWork.com
Stepping up with Creative Leadership
creativityatwork.com/design-thinking-strategy-for-innovation/

13. © 2014 Linda Naiman CreativityatWork.com
How do you decide?
Source: IDEO
Is your idea
• Desirable?
• Technologically feasible?
• Financially viable?

14. © 2014 Linda Naiman CreativityatWork.com
Getting people onboard with your ideas
!
1. Craft your value proposition: State the challenges your face and the
opportunities for growth. Be succinct.
2. Provide three possible solutions with advantages and disadvantages of each.
It’s easier to say no to one idea than three.
3. Present your recommendation and rationale. Include feasibility and give
examples of success elsewhere. Evoke emotion with stories, metaphors, and
images.
4. Give credit to your boss and team if they contributed to your ideas
5. Invite feedback and avoid being defensive. Think of any negative feedback as
a challenge to re-framing your cause and finding a better solution
6. Ask for agreement on taking action
Click here for more tips on
how to pitch your ideas

15. © 2014 Linda Naiman CreativityatWork.com
Avoid Killer Mistakes
• Failure to flex your
communication style
• Failure to listen to input
• Failure to collaborate so others
have ownership in idea too
• Only having one idea
• Falling in love with your idea and
trying to control it
• Taking criticism of your idea
personally
!

16. © 2014 Linda Naiman CreativityatWork.com
"A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when
his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it
ourselves." —Lao Tzu

17. © 2014 Linda Naiman CreativityatWork.com
Where do you see an
opportunity to step up
with creative leadership?
!
Find out what you can do
to make life & work better
for others.
!
!

18. © 2014 Linda Naiman CreativityatWork.com
Thank you!
Let’s connect!
Subscribe to my Creativity at Work blog for
updates.
Google+
Twitter @lindanaiman
Facebook
!
For coaching/consulting drop me a line:
LN@creativityatwork.com
Tel: +1 604-327-1565
Thank you!
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!
!
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All art @Linda Naiman except Lao Tsu painting
Linda Naiman
Creativity, Innovation and
Leadership Development