This post is a bittersweet tribute of sorts – advice from Dr. Orval Butcher, a former boss of mine who became a friend, advisor, mentor, and spiritual touchstone. A few years ago, I had the privilege of saying goodbye to him and expressing my thanks and deep appreciation to him – for the last time. He was unquestionably the most creative individual I ever knew. That may have been why it was such a joy for me to work with him—he encouraged, supported, and stimulated my own creativity and allowed me the freedom to think and work “out of the box.”
He taught me this principle: If you stop drawing from the well of creativity, it will dry up. It’s easy to become lazy and complacent about your own creativity… to keep rehashing and reusing the same ideas over and over again. Once you “create” a certain kind of success, it’s easy to go back to that success and rely on it again to have the same impact. The danger is that you will get stuck there… limited by your own success!
Just a reminder…research in the area of neuroscience supports this idea—the more you “exercise” creative thinking, the more your ability to think creatively GROWS!
I’ve seen it over and over again in every kind of organization… the meteoric rise, plateau, and eventual ebb of every kind of successful product, idea, or service. Not that there’s anything wrong with “new and improved” models and versions… but real leadership requires the ability to understand the need for something completely different.
That’s one way I help my clients understand the difference between management and leadership. A great manager keeps the status quo effective and well-oiled: organized, efficient, well-run… with clear direction and effective oversight. A great LEADER understands when the status quo (no matter how effectively it is managed) is no longer adequate… when it is time for a NEW “box.” AND THAT’S THE TOUGHEST KIND OF CREATIVE THINKING THAT EXISTS.
It means imagining something that no one has ever seen before… something so inevitably necessary that once it is created, everyone keeps thinking “How did we ever manage without this???”
The message is a simple one: You will never become a truly effective leader if you start resting on your laurels. Your role as a leader never stops… your need for creative solutions never ends… the difficult challenge of imagining a better future is never completely conquered.
The same is true for ideas and tools “imported” from sources outside your own organization.
One of the most common phenomena I see in organizations is the attempt to impose a new idea, tool, program, or change initiative that leaders have been “sold on” by eager proponents of a particular concept (often extolled in a recent best-selling management title!)—the next great “thing” that will guarantee success.
Company executives rarely ask the tough questions about the new program:
- What other organizations have used this?
- How well has it worked for them?
- Are they in our same industry?
- Are they anything like US?
Does this really fit our organization…our business…our culture…our people…our situation???
Sometimes there is enough “fit” that the new idea has potential traction and can really help. But most of the time, it needs to be massaged; adjusted; tweaked a bit; and eventually led by wise executives and managers who have a realistic understanding of what is REALLY required for effective organizational change.
If you feel “stuck” in your work, your organization, your position, or your business, give us a call. We can help! We have “unstuck” people and organizations and helped them become more effective… with training, coaching, individualized consulting, and strategic planning.
In the meantime, if you’re looking for some sources and resources… here’s the link to order my book: Leading Teams: How to Inspire, Motivate, Lead, and Succeed!: James Dyke: 9781934589007: Amazon.com: Books (it’s less than a buck for a used copy!!???)
And here’s the link to view the list of training events we provide organizations like yours:
TopicListCLI.pdf (clionline.com)
And don’t forget to stay tuned to this blog! We are constantly in the literature, researching the latest information on effective management and leadership and passing those great insights on to our clients! We promise to keep you learning and growing with each post.
Until next time… Yours for better leaders and better organizations,
Dr. Jim Dyke – “The Boss Doctor” ™ helping you to BE a better boss and to HAVE a better boss!
