Accountable Leaders Foster Creativity | Accelerate Success with Lorraine Moore

In my book, Feet to the Fire, I discuss the different facets of leadership and how to successfully navigate a variety of challenges. We explore what it means to model personal accountability and how to hold others to account.

One facet of leadership is productivity. Harnessing productivity is key to achieving the important balance of structure and efficiency. Done right, you and your team can take much more control over your time and achieve more in fewer hours.

I offer some practical steps in Feet to the Fire to achieve this, but today I want to focus on the relationship between productivity and creativity. Let me share with you ways to release your creativity.

Productive and Creative
It is important to be productive. It is equally important to be creative. Here are some ways you can foster your creativity.

One hour of thinking time. No technology. I do not recall where I heard this idea, but my clients and I have found it to be worthwhile. Take a pad of paper or notebook and a pen – no tablet, laptop, or cell phone. Find a quiet location – an empty boardroom, a park bench, ideally not a busy coffee shop. For one hour, write down whatever comes to mind – ideas, a to-do list, random thoughts. Or doodle and draw – this is a great stimulation for the right brain. Sometimes my clients identify a specific problem or issue to solve and spend the hour considering how to approach it.
Sleep. I have joked with my family over the years that I am really easy to get along with after ten hours of sleep. I do not often sleep that long but eight to nine hours is most common for me and when on a restful holiday with no alarm, I often sleep ten hours. Not everyone requires this much sleep. However, in spite of people proudly saying they feel great on four hours per night or that they feel terrific when the alarm goes off at 4 a.m., there is considerable research to belie those claims. Our brains do not optimally function without six to eight hours of sleep. It is analogous to preventative maintenance on our vehicles or our equipment; there is a cost when we forego sleep.
Holidays – take them. Every year. Your full entitlement. If you are in the midst of an M&A, a crisis from a safety incident, I will give you a let. However, you and I both know that is the exception, not the norm. You need time away from work to regain and retain perspective and objectivity. You will be a better leader as a result. Your team members will benefit from solving issues independent of you and their relationships will improve as a result.

Excerpted from Feet to the Fire: How to Exemplify and Create the Accountability that Creates Great Companies. For more on how to lead with a model of personal accountability, pick up a copy today on Amazon!

My clients accelerate their results – increasing profitability, leadership performance, innovation, and accountability. I would love to discuss how I might help you thrive and contribute to your overall success. Contact me today.

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