Leadership can be defined as the ability to facilitate others towards the accomplishment of meaningful goals. The more distant and novel the goals, the more likely you are to run into obstacles along the way. To circumvent these obstacles leaders need to be creative thinkers.

Think about it – in a world defined by volatility, uncertainty, and complexity, leaders need to be adaptable, visionary, and original. In other words creative! And today many business experts and leadership scholars recognize that creativity and creative thinking are essential leadership skills. A global IBM survey of more than 1,500 private and public sector executives came to the same conclusion: the number one leadership skill identified by executives was creativity.

Leaders also need to be proficient at facilitating the creative thinking of others – they should be models of creative thinking, thus setting the tone for a more innovative and creative work climate and culture. At the end of the day, leadership success is contingent upon an individual’s ability to creatively solve problems, engage others in creative-problem-solving efforts, and facilitate change.

I refer to this kind of leadership as Creative Leadership.

My expectations were high attending the level one Creativity Workshop after colleagues had shared their high praise of Gerard Puccio and how much they valued his instruction. Well, I found the three days profound, valuable and enjoyable. Gerard’s engaging style is only outdone by his willingness to share powerful secrets for harnessing every-person’s creativity to achieve big impact in a fast-paced and rapidly changing world. 

I’d highly recommend this experience for anyone who is looking for a competitive edge in business and in life.  

- Jeff Vallentin, Executive Director, Advancement & Alumni Relations, Sheridan College

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Are you a leader who is aspiring to tap into his or her own creative thinking, and that of others, to change our world for the better?