Does creativity hinder leadership advancement? Dr. Gerard Puccio

Posted on Mar 15, 2011 in creativity in organizations, innovation | Comments Off

BUFFALO, N.Y., March 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/(adapted)

Gerard Puccio, chair of Buffalo State College’s International Center for Studies in Creativity, commented on an upcoming research article that says creative thinking stops individuals from advancing into leadership positions. The study by Mueller et al, will be published an upcoming issue of the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.

Dr. Gerard Puccio

Puccio is a recognized international expert in creativity research. Over the last decade he has been studying the link between creativity and leadership and expressed serious reservations about the conclusions being drawn from this soon-to-be-published research report.

Puccio’s comments on creativity and leadership

  • “It is a gross exaggeration to conclude that creative thinking will stop individuals from advancing into leadership positions.”

  • “A growing number of researchers and scholars have argued that creative thinking is an ability leaders must possess to be effective in the 21st century.”
  • “When we work with managers in corporations around the world, they consistently see the positive value of creative thinking in terms of leadership effectiveness.”
  • “Creativity is much more than generating original ideas. True creative behavior is about using imagination to resolve complex problems and to visualize new opportunities that are then brought to fruition.
  • “Creative leadership is an ability to apply creative thinking to move a group or organization in a new direction that, as a consequence, brings about positive change. And to survive in today’s fast-changing world, this is exactly the kind of leadership organizations need.”

Comments from the IBM Global survey of more than 1,500 executive leaders

  • “CEOs now realize that creativity trumps other leadership characteristics. Creative leaders are comfortable with ambiguity and experimentation.  To connect and inspire a new generation, they lead and interact in entirely new ways.”

Puccio leads an academic department that offers the world’s only master of science degree in creativity. He has been at the forefront of recognizing the need for creative leadership, polling over 7,000 leaders from around the globe.  In 2007 he co-authored the book Creative Leadership: Skills that Drive Change.  A second edition was published in January 2011.

Commentary

I agree with Puccio.  Changes can happen overnight.  Sudden changes.  Leadership without the capacity to use new ideas, tap into imagination, make new decisions or to support these behaviours in others does not a pretty picture paint.

It’s easy to see that people need help advancing their creative ideas, and presenting them in ways others value so that putting them forward is not a career-limiting move.

Besides, without creativity, innovation would not occur. Creativity results from a restlessness to change and/or improve; innovation results from creativity. Our future depends on using and developing creative capacity so that it becomes a practiced skill.

Wouldn’t it be nice if people who expressed their creativity were affirmed for their potential as leaders ? If not, then why all the hub-bub about teaching students to use their creative capacity (not just arts) at schools?

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Remember to celebrate World Creativity and Innovation Week April 15 – 21. Let’s enliven the creative leadership capacity around the globe!

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