How creativity gives you the edge as a leader

In today’s world, leadership is about more than just the bottom line. It’s about dealing with the constant challenges the world we live in brings up. It’s about being able to innovate to deal with challenges; provide solutions that support your business’ vision, as well as contribute to your personal values and, for the world and humanity at large.

It’s understanding and empathising with the different backgrounds and needs of your team. Being able to nurture talents and strengths so individuals feel seen and heard, and can bring their best selves to the work they do – whilst staying committed to a company they believe in.

It’s also about looking after yourself so you don’t burn out. So you can bring your unique skills and talents to your leadership in a sustainable way. As well as respond with thoughtful conviction and empathy, rather than quickly react to, the many different things that are thrown your way.

It can certainly be overwhelming with all you have to deal with, and it’s so easy to get swept into the do-ing, pushing and striving of it all. But, if you embrace creativity (through methods that work for you) and the potential it has to bring you into flow, and alignment with your whole self, you may just find that things unfold more effortlessly and you find a way forward that not only produces results, but actually improves your overall wellbeing and productivity!

Here are some ways incorporating creativity into your life – both on a personal level and in the workplace – can give you the edge as a leader.

Access deeper clarity and make aligned decisions
While it can often seem counterintuitive to take time away from the to-do list that never ends, it actually refreshes you and brings you back to your inner power and innate wisdom. Taking the time to engage in a creative activity such as journaling, mindful movement, creative visualisation or even visual art, will activate the right hemisphere of your brain. This helps you to open to a flow state, which comes from relaxation. From this, you naturally begin to work smarter not harder. You feel grounded from deep within and can access deeper clarity and make aligned decisions, with ease and speed.

Inspire innovation and creative problem-solving
As you spend more time engaged in creative activities cultivating a flow state, you begin to access ideas and inspiration that can seem to come from nowhere. Moving away from the tunnel-vision focus of the left brain, into the creative, expansive right-hemisphere of the brain opens you up to the unconscious. Alongside innovative ideas, solutions to problems rising can suddenly come to you. You become more open and connected to possibilities that the logical mind often can’t conceive of.

Cultivate resilience and reduce stress
Creative expression provides an outlet for releasing tension and processing emotions. It can also spark joy, reminding you of what you enjoyed as a child. This brings you back into the present moment, giving you perspective on the job at hand, cultivating resilience. An added benefit is becoming more embodied which adds to overall health and wellbeing. There’s less desire to numb, escape and turn to un-healthy habits, patterns and behaviours as you feel more connected with your body, its needs and how to support yourself in a healthy way.

Nurture and engage your team
Creative practices can support leaders to develop and increase empathy. By exploring and expressing your own emotions through various creative practices, you increase your emotional intelligence and deepen your self-awareness. This makes it easier to recognise and respond to the emotions of others more easily. You can then inspire and encourage your team through vulnerability and authentic connection, as you come from an embodied place of openness.