Working with creatives can be both frustrating and rewarding. For managers, it can be a frustrating experience, as highly creative individuals can be stubborn at times. On the other hand, it’s also a rewarding journey, as they re extremely passionate and dedicated to their projects.

Creatives - writers / bloggers, graphic artists, photographers, videographers, animators, web designers, social media marketers, etc - hold a special place in business organizations. Whether they’re in your advertising and marketing department, on the operations floor, or in management positions, they play a big role in shaping the future of an enterprise. However, because of their unique qualities, they often prefer a different management approach. They tend to avoid routines, dislike rigid procedures, and crave meaningful interactions with the people around them.

How can managers adjust to their creative team’s preferences to maximize employee engagement? Here are five staff management tips on how to mobilize your creatives to unleash their true potential in the workplace.

1. Micromanagement is their biggest enemy.

As a general rule, micromanagement is every employee’s biggest enemy. But highly creative individuals try to veer away from micromanagers as much as possible, and it’s not because they’re not open to new ideas. As employees, they prize freedom of expression, and they want to depend on their unique talents to get things done their own way. Just make sure to give them a general guide to drive them toward results that clients expect.

 

2. Provide your team a firm direction.

Creative workers are also very passionate workers. They treat every project as a reflection of their personal abilities, and managers should use this emotional investment to their advantage. They highly appreciate firm and thoughtful guidance as they look for optimum solutions to a project. Also, it’s best to monitor a project’s progress to make sure that everything’s in line with your objectives.

 

3. Be prepared to listen to their ideas.

One great thing about having creative employees is that they’ll never run out of ideas. They naturally think outside the box so brainstorming sessions would always be lively and productive. Always lend your ears to them and make them feel that their suggestions are highly prized in the office.

 

4. Minimize interruptions.

Interruptions are one of the biggest creativity killers. When your employees are too engrossed in a project, it’s best to allow them to concentrate on that task. It would help if you could schedule extra activities and meetings in advance so they can adjust their own timetables without sacrificing the hours they’d like to devote to their projects.

 

5. Break the ice.

Highly creative people are more averse to routine than others. If they’re working in an office where they have to work from 9 to 5 every day, the best you can do is engage them in fun activities from time to time. Also, team building activities can work wonders in keeping your team away from burnout.

There’s no one-size-fits-all formula when it comes to staff management. To achieve maximum employee engagement, managers have to adopt different leadership styles that would suit specific types of employees. This is the key to making sure that everyone s working to their full abilities without compromising their physical and mental well-being.