Creativity is a crucial asset at any company, but managing it comes with a special set of challenges. How do you support and nurture the artistic process without stifling your team? How do you balance the need for innovation with the demands of running a successful, profitable business?

• Embrace the creative journey. Managing a creative team isn’t just about understanding their work; it’s about understanding their mindset, process, and the intrinsic motivations that drive their creativity. To understand the full depth of the artistic process, schedule regular check-ins with your creative staff and ask them open-ended questions about their process.
• Give creative staff space. Rather than trying to control every aspect of the creative process, adopt a decentralized management approach. Strict rules and micromanagement can stifle talent and lead to low-quality work.
• Don’t be afraid to give constructive criticism. Be thoughtful in your delivery of feedback. Focus on inspiring them rather than trying to control their work.
• Encourage collaboration between creatives and the rest of the team. In any industry, conflicts can arise when departments that regularly collaborate aren’t familiar with each other’s workflows, resources, and restrictions.
• Remember that you’re running a business. Creativity must not only be balanced against what is possible but also against what is profitable. You must ensure that your team’s support for innovation doesn’t undermine the business’s viability.