Leading a creative project starts with the mindset. Many people imagine that the main challenge of a creative project is to come up with a good idea. However, reality shows that many promising projects fall by the wayside not for lack of talent, but for lack of direction, clarity or ability to turn a vision into something sustainable. Behind every cultural, artistic or creative initiative that manages to generate impact there is usually a person capable of connecting creativity and leadership. Someone who knows how to communicate an idea, make decisions, adapt to change and build relationships with collaborators, communities or audiences. Leading a project does not mean controlling everything or always having the right answer. It means creating the necessary conditions so that an idea can grow, evolve and generate value for other people. That's why developing a creative leadership mindset can make a big difference. The free checklist that accompanies this article was created precisely for that purpose: to help you stop, look at your project with perspective and reflect on how you are leading each of its stages.
@awalsh
North Saanich, Canada
