8 Characteristics of Creative Leaders

by. Matt Monge

I hate to outline things that may generally be true of what some would consider “creative” leaders, because I don’t want that to misconstrued as me positing that some humans are creative and others aren’t. I don’t think that at all.

But while I think all of us have the capacity and ability to be creative in our own ways, I think some people have more of a natural bent in that direction. That’s more their default mode than anything else. It’s a more pronounced trait in some than in others, just like any other can be.

Here are a few I was chewing on. Please feel free to add your own to the list.

1. Creative leaders may be somewhat (or very) rebellious, but in a good way, if that makes sense. They’re rebellious in that they tend to be uncomfortable with traditional rules and conventions. They want to do new things, or at least old things in new ways.

What I’m not saying: Creative leaders get to be obstinate jackasses. I don’t care if you think you’re Pablo freaking Picasso, it’s going to be harder to be creative when someone has judo chopped you in the windpipe because of your incessant and jackass-ish obstinacy.

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