Creativity Management: the Role of Motivation

Creativity Management: the Role of Motivation

By Kal Bishop

Tip! Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out... ~ Robert Collier

What do creativity managers do?

Replace the word management with the word optimisation.

That's what creativity managers do: they optimise the quality of the idea pool (creativity) and the implementation process (innovation).

There are many methods of optimisation and the creativity leader must be aware of all of them, in other words, he or she must synthesise them for optimal effect.

Areas [within creativity] that need managing include motivation, organisational culture, organisational structure, incremental versus radical effects and processes, knowledge mix, group structures, goals, process and valuation.

Tip! Profits are better than wages. Wages make you a living; profits make you a fortune. ~ Jim Rohn

Areas [within innovation] that need managing include idea selection, development / prototyping and the art of commercialisation.

It is worth noting that 4000 good ideas result in 4 development programs, which in turn results in 1 winner.

The role of motivation

An individual may be 'creative' but if s/he is not motivated then s/he will not produce to optimal levels.

There are two general types of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation is that where a task is completed for its own sake. Extrinsic motivation is where a task is completed for an ulterior motive (e.g. payment).

Tip! Listen to your motivational tapes/CDs. Your car does not have to be the only place you go to get motivated.

Extrinsic motivators can be subdivided into those that aid the endeavour (synergistic) and those that hinder it (non-synergistic). For example, payment may - up to a point - be a synergistic extrinsic motivator in that it will increase your motivation. On the other hand, a dictate from a boss may be a non-synergistic motivator as it will just make you feel controlled and manipulated.

The ultimate question is how do we maximise motivation. There are a variety of factors that can be applied including, a) closing the gap between the real and ideal self, b) feasibility, c) peer recognition, d) competency expansion, e) fun or enjoyability and f) reward.

Tip! Have energy. Caffeine will substitute for health for a while, but one way or another, you need some energy to have daily motivation.

Learn more�

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Kal Bishop, MBA

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Download the MBA research, learn about this topic at http://www.creativity-management.com/