1. Fostering Creativity in Yourself and Your Team
13 Mar 2018 – Session 2
Kari S. Sanders
© 2018, Kari S. Sanders

2. Team Creativity Fostering a Creative Environment
© 2017, Kari S. Sanders karisanders.com

3. Fostering a Creative Environment
Setting Goals
Delegation
Respect
Encourage participation from all members
All the things we know to do but don’t
Handling Conflict
Take Breaks
© 2018, Kari S. Sanders karisanders.com

4. Setting Goals
Goals for what the team needs to develop should be challenging, but not so much so that they are demotivating
Use the following tips for defining your goals:*
*Sanders, K. (2017). “The Power of Measurement and Prediction”
© 2018, Kari S. Sanders karisanders.com

5. Just because it’s not how you would have done it, doesn’t mean it is wrong.
Let’s talk about delegation and how improper use of delegation can squash team creativity….
© 2018, Kari S. Sanders karisanders.com

6. Delegation means
Responsibility
Authority
Creative Control

7. Handling Conflict
Don’t play favorites…. Including your favorite solution
Stick to facts
Ask questions to clarify
Ask questions probing the path forward
Avoid prescribing solutions
A need to force solutions from the leadership level may point to the need for improved team building prior to resuming a creative pursuit.
© 2018, Kari S. Sanders karisanders.com

8. Team culture is driven by your behavior
Breaks are Important
Just as for yourself, your teams
Can’t be creative on command
Need to own their balance
Your role as a leader is to balance the environment:
Push for a schedule;
Promote some space for individual thought
Team culture is driven by your behavior
© 2018, Kari S. Sanders karisanders.com

9. Designing a Specialty “Catio” or “Puppy Palace”
You have clients for whom cost of the project is not a consideration. They have asked for a specialty patio design for their cats (catio) or puppy (puppy palace) that will allow them to comfortably enjoy the outdoors and exercise year- round.
Break into teams for this 15-minute exercise:
What features will your catio/puppy palace have?
What does your catio/puppy palace look like? (provide a sketch of the overall design and sketches of any special features)
Prepare to brief the workshop about the how, what, why or your design
© 2018, Kari S. Sanders karisanders.com

10. Out brief from Teams What did you come up with?
What were the things that worked well with your team?
What challenges did you need to overcome?
© 2018, Kari S. Sanders karisanders.com

11. Your team’s creativity starts with you
Summary
Your team’s creativity starts with you
Promote behaviors that make team members feel respected and encouraged
Set goals appropriately
Delegate well
Help them own their balance
Storming, forming, and norming is real – be prepared to lead through conflict
© 2018, Kari S. Sanders karisanders.com

12. Thank you!
I hope I have inspired you to think differently about creativity. My name is Kari Sanders, and it has been a pleasure to be here today.
Kari S. Sanders