I think it’s obvious. Others might strongly disagree.
Are you ready for what might seem a controversial statement?
Here it is – no matter how much businesses go on and on about how they want a creative work force, they really don’t.
In fact, a truly creative work force would drive most corporate types nuts, but not only for the obvious reasons.
The obvious reasons are resistance to authority, threats to power, a problem with berets in the workplace and other stereotypes, based on mistaken assumptions, knee-jerk reactions and what might be wishful thinking.
But the real problem with a coffee shop full of creatives in the corporate world would be scheduling.
That’s right – scheduling. I’m not talking about creativity being impossible to put on a timeline, or supporting any of those “I’m too creative to meet deadlines” excuses.
I think that’s lazy, self-indulgent crap.
But I do believe that all people think differently, and since people think differently, it’s only logical that they will turn those thoughts into action in – guess what! – different ways.
That’s the root of the problem. Corporations thrive on things being the same. They’re based on the expectation that a group of people will come to the same place at the same time each day and do mostly the same things.
Corporations also expect that these people units will do the same amount of the same thing.
That’s how goals and budgets are set, for departments, divisions and whole corporations, and that’s what managers are directed to manage towards.
The problem is, that’s not how anyone works, especially so-called “creative people.” I think there are ups and downs in anyone’s output, just like there are variations in an electric current.
When you’re trying to do something new, or better, or just different, these fluctuations will become even more pronounced. This doesn’t mean employees with a creative working style can’t be productive. In fact, they can be extraordinarily productive, but their work habits aren’t going to fit into the standard mold.
I think this gives buttoned-down managers a double whammy. They might get irritated when they don’t know exactly what a staffer will do on a given day, but what they really can’t stand is when this individual comes up with something wonderful.
This means that people with a more creative work style actually have two jobs – the job they were hired to do and the equally important job of helping their boss understand how they go about doing it.
Does this sound tough? What do you think?
