You hired a creative player - now what?

Some of the biggest challenges I see is when a very creative person has been added to a team and they struggle to make an impact. Time and time again it is the fault of the organization and its inability to figure out how to bring someone like this on board, teach them what they need to know about the company and then paint a clear vision of where they want the company to go. In some cases the leadership will think that all is solved now that they have a new creative engine for the company. The proper groundwork needs to be laid for this new talent to even have a chance to make an impact on the company. In some instances the needs of the organization are unclear and this usually stems form a lack of strategic focus. I have always said I can teach someone a process but I can not teach the passion that is needed to be a creative impact player in an organization. Here are some simple steps to making the most of hiring a creative player for your team

• Provide a clear vision of where you want the company or project to end up - what does it look like at the end


• Provide resources that ground the person in the company or brand - lets them build a frame work


• Connect them with the end user if it is a product or process


• Encourage use of design thinking


• Allow them to build a collaborative team


• Wait for periodic updates - don't critical think the ideas as they are presented - sit with them


• Agree on at least three of the approaches to the challenge or project


• Allow them to proto-type and trial test the idea


• Encourage successes and collaborate on failures


• Test final version - read and evaluate


• Implement impact ideas to grow the business