Creativity Challenge 19

Karl F. Gretz and Steven R. Drozdeck have written a very useful book titled: EMPOWERING INNOVATIVE PEOPLE. I prefer to stretch their efforts to be more encompassing....EMPOWERING CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION IN PEOPLE.

In their book they list discuss examples of how managers can recognize, communicate, lead, motivate, coach, counsel, and monitor and evaluate innovative people.

Their last example is from Fisher-Price Toys.

F-P has long felt that motivation is important to any creative effort. Therefore continuos feedback, encouragement, and support from peers and superiors are built into every facet of the company's policies.

Examples.....

• continuous close contact with staff by managers
  
• take designers out for lunch or dinner to discuss their work and offer support regularly
  
• regular show-and-tell sessions, formal and informal, to provide praise and feedback from peers and high-ups.
  
• intelligent compensation based on guidelines and individual's overall performance.