I’ve had the opportunity to lead a number of creative people over the last 15 years both in ministry and in the marketplace. And, from time to time, I’ve been known to be a “creative” myself. Creatives are different. They deliver new ideas and approaches, but they come with their quirks. You can’t lead creatives like you lead “normal” people.
Within the church, don’t assume creative people only work in your worship arts area. They’re likely to hangout there, but it’s also very possible they’re on just about every ministry team at your church. They may not sing songs or draw pictures, but they’re still creative. And, if you don’t learn how to lead them, they’ll find someplace else to take their creativity.
Here are some reminders for leading creative people:
- Tell them what to do, but not how to do it. You can hold them accountable for the results, but don’t force them to embrace a certain process.
- If you want their input, you’ll need to ask. If you stop asking, they’ll stop contributing.
- If you ask, you better consider their input. If you’re not really going to use their input, it’s better not to even ask.
- Know that they’ll be emotionally attached to what they create. So, if you decide not to use their creation, you’ll have to process that appropriately and not abruptly.