Managing creative, brilliant, independent, or quirky people requires special skills and a somewhat unique approach. However, when you learn to manage and nurture your creative staff successfully, you've developed skills that will enhance your own career potential and serve you well in any high-level management position. Creatives may include artists, designers, Web programmers, writers, creative directors, producers, musicians, actors, and other people who just so happen to have a creative mindset.
Also recognize that most highly creative, talented types have one thing in common: they think for themselves. That's why "managing" and "creative" are words that may seem to be in conflict. However, they are not actually incompatible when the management process is handled wisely.
Recognize that every creative person is unique. Creative/practical, creative/intellectual, creative/narcissistic, creative/wild... you get the idea. Despite the stereotypes, many creative people work well in organizations, particularly dynamic ones.
Managing a creative person (and managing most smart and self-motivated people) should be less about control and more about working toward mutual benefit. He/she is a creative who needs to apply those skills to make a living; you are the manager who can help him/her accomplish that goal. Nurture and help develop the creative as a person who can thrive in your organization.
If you're lucky, you're the person doing the hiring as well as the managing. If so, be sure that the person you're hiring is not only creative, but also a good match for your organization in other ways. Is he or she disciplined, smart and able to keep to a schedule?
Know when to compromise or refresh your views. Is that iPod really a problem? Is it time for your company to allow nose rings? Differentiate between what matters and what doesn't. Pick your battles.
Manage with an eye toward the "no compromise" issues. These will include honesty, putting in a good day's work and treating other staff members decently, and perhaps also sticking to an assigned schedule and wearing business attire.
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