Brewster pointed me to this article earlier this month. Inc.com has a story called “Innovation: How the Creative Stay Creative.” They recommend:
- Get multicultural. – You need to get around people that are different than you.
- Provide lots of free time to think. – Give staff freedom with their schedules, and encourage them to be “off” and dream big.
- Encourage risky behavior. – Maybe my wife will let me ride a scooter. :-)
- Write it down. – Encourage your team to write and share their lives with others. (More blogging!)
- Hire smart. – Hire risk-takers. You need people that are willing to embrace change.
- Bring in outsiders. – Bring in outside perspective to expand your thinking. (That’s how we arrived at our live-streaming technology for multi-site.)
- Be flexible. Very flexible. – The same strategy doesn’t work for every situation.
- Do it for free. – Give your team the ability to give their work away and serve others.
- Mix up your people. – Let people step into new team environments for a season.
I would rank NewSpring very strong with numbers 4, 6 and 8. I think we need to work on 1 and 2. Do you NewSpringers agree?
How would you rate your organization? Do you see these characteristics on your team?
Great list. Thanks for posting it. Being more creative is something I’ve been striving toward.
We struggle with anything that involves “free time”. Maybe someone would have some suggestions on how to best work on that. I pastor at a 700 member church in Indiana and we are trying to become more innovative and creative…but “free time” to dream big is hard to come by. By trying to be more we’ve only added more things to do and we haven’t added any new staff. It is something that we need to work through for sure…and I bet we’re not the only church out there struggling with this also…
Brook Sarver
http://www.two10eleven.com
[...] those of us with short attention spans… here’s Tony Morgan’s summary. If you’re interested in the full version, read [...]
From my observations and the friends I know on staff, I think you guys do a good job with #9 too. You mix people up and have them fill new positions as fits there giftedness, to grow them and as the needs within the church change and shift. I love that, it appears that you refuse to get pegged and like to think outside the box. Kudos!
My biggest issue in finding creativity is #2. I need space , but I am my own enemy, cause I don’t give myself space or time think or dream. When I dream I create. I have to create space.
[...] Get creative and stay creative in Ton Morgans world. Lets start a series on getting Tony to change his picture to a cooler one, we know he’s got it in him. ;) [...]
As a NewSpring member (but not a staff member), I’m not qualified to meaningfully address many of those. However, I agree that Number 1 needs some serious work. Our church’s staff and leadership is pretty homogeneous and not representative of the surrounding community… yet.
that is great…..if your staff and church is already creative…but what do you do when your staff used to be creative but have over the past few years become comfortable….what can you do to recreated creativity?
jared, i agree. though, you have to admit, it’s pretty cool that perry had the guts to hire an italian like me. :-)
tony
[...] How To Stay Creative – Good thoughts here! [...]
[...] the rest of the article here (HT:MC). [...]
[...] How the creative stay creative… [...]
[...] blog to read: How the Creative Stay Creative by Tony [...]