Creativity in Crisis? Yes!
"Most booms last only briefly and what follows is the ultimate test of leadership." Colonel Rob Campbell. "Left and Right of the Boom"
Here for you, the Rob Campbell Leadership Blog subscriber is a small piece of my recent book, “Left and Right of the Boom. The Art of Leadership – Before, During, and After Crisis.” You’ll find this part of the book in Chapter 3, “The Crisis Ready Foundation.” Here I get left of the boom where leaders form and foster a strong foundation upon which their organization and its people can stand – one which will endure when crisis comes as it surely will. In the book I offer, “The 5 C’s of Crisis Leadership. They are, Calm, Communication, Courage, Confidence, and Creativity. None of them were chosen by accident. Together they capture the true essence of leadership under crisis. Here is Creativity.
Creativity is more important today than it has ever been. The advent and emergence of technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence, and advanced automation, robotics, and mechatronics have revolutionized modern business. What was once impossible is now possible. Creative leaders ask, “Why not?” to promote a spirit of creative problem-solving to achieve a solution that was once thought improbable. Those resistant to change will falter under crises, especially those crises that call for creative solutions and drastic change. An informative article titled “What is Creative Leadership?,” authored by Menno van Dijk, Grant Davidson, and Valeria Mecozzi, offers this two-part definition of creativity, which I think is very useful as we examine the distinguishing traits, qualities, or properties of a crisis leader.
“Creative leadership as a philosophy (or characteristic) embraces change as a given while seeking opportunity everywhere. It envisions desirable futures and unleashes the courage, collaboration, and creativity of contributors. Through a generous, inclusive purpose deeply rooted in pragmatic idealism and empathy, it gives rise to a transcendent consciousness that goes beyond individual gratification.”
“Creative leadership as an act builds on those desirable futures through scalable enterprises derived from innovative strategies. Creativity, critical analysis, experimentation, big vision, collaboration, bold action, calculated risk taking, agility and hard work all drive participative value…”
When restaurants were restricted from seating people at 100% capacity during the height of the pandemic, revenue took an immediate hit. Effective leaders accepted and even embraced the change and sought opportunities and innovative strategies to overcome. They took bold action and led with agility toward a desirable future. Creativity flourished under this leadership. Restaurants with dining rooms converted to take-out and delivery operations. Wait staff took meals to cars in a parking lot instead of serving customers at tables. Hosts or hostesses took orders via the internet or over the phone instead taking reservations or seating people. And some restaurants built patios, rooftops, “igloos,” and other outdoor seating options — knocking down walls and completely rethinking how to serve the masses in “socially distanced” ways.
Creativity, the fifth C, leverages the other C’s of crisis leadership. Leaders display courage and confidence to foster creativity. They communicate a spirit of perseverance through creative thinking to their people. They calmly and positively receive creative ideas. Creative leaders strip off their blinders and attempt to do this with the people they lead. They bring imagination into the culture of the organization where people can imagine a bigger, brighter future and take concrete steps toward achieving it.
There is much to be done to prepare for, lead through, and learn from crisis. Consider, very strongly, creativity. It will be needed for when the time comes. Grab my latest book in the “Battlefield to Boardroom” series. Better yet, buy it in bulk for your team. It will serve as ‘body armor’ for when things blow up. Boom!
Make it Personal!
Rob
Rob Campbell