A (not boring) way to be a better Executive
If you asked me to tell you one usual competency of top Executives, I would excitedly tell you “Executive Creativity”. As an Executive, CEO, or really any position, it’s helpful to be creative in your life and work.
Creativity can mean different things. Executive Creativity means that you regularly give yourself the opportunity to shut off your “process and procedure” brain and turn on your “think outside-the-box” brain.
Whether it’s to find a unique solution to a problem with a client, sell a new type of product, or close an important deal, your creative muscles will be central to creating successful outcomes—not to mention the creativity that goes into developing and executing long-term business strategy. To imagine a future that doesn’t exist, and then unite your team behind it, takes a tremendous amount of vision and outside-the-box thinking.
Bob Iger, the famous Disney CEO who brokered highly lucrative deals with Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars, labeled “creative thinking” as one of his top responsibilities and a characteristic of some of the world’s best leaders. For Iger, it’s just as important to make suggestions during a meeting on what new toy to launch as it is to sit in the boardroom and review financial data. He never considered himself a creative person, but over his career, he learned how to tap into those muscles.
Personally, I’ve learned to express my creativity through writing. Writing LinkedIn content and this newsletter has helped me understand how people think and how to use written word to connect with them emotionally. It's one thing that’s helped me sell over $400k in new deals in my first year, as well as get promoted twice in the same timeframe. Plus, the more I sell deals, the more I understand people, and the more I understand the potential future for our business here at Well Built.
I’ve found that this expression of my creativity through writing has also helped me to communicate more effectively at work. My emails are more succinct and pack more punch. Then, my relationships are tighter, and I feel more confident in coming up with and pursuing new and exciting opportunities.
I’ve never thought about it this way until right now (thanks for the new idea, outside-the-box brain!), but maybe Executive Creativity is a way of building confidence that you can create something out of nothing. This is a very important skill if you want to get to the President or CEO position.
Another benefit of creativity is the psychological impact it has on you. Every time you create, you express yourself deeply—no matter what it is that you’re creating. I have a friend who I admire dearly because he regularly water paints. He has the paintings around his house and every time he talks about them, he seems confident and relaxed. It really draws me to him.
And by the way, this friend is a Sales Executive who wins over $15M in new construction contracts every year for a trade contractor. I’m not suggesting his creativity is the only reason he is successful at selling himself and the company, but I’ve also witnessed his selling skills in action, and I don’t think I’m biased when I say his creativity in finding ways to close deals and make people excited to work with him is one of the top influencing factors. There is a lot of good in having an outlet other than work for expressing yourself.
Another example that comes to mind is one Founder/CEO we work with who is an avid fisherman. He can tell you exactly how to bait a hook depending on what you’re after, or how to position the boat based on the wind. Listening to him talk about fishing so passionately is just straight fun. It’s different than writing or painting, but who’s to say it’s not creativity at work?
This same guy recently found a way to shift an experienced employee into a much-needed new position for the company. We had been looking for someone to fill the role for months, and with one idea, he realized we had the right person under our nose all along. Again, there’s so many skills that go into it, but an ability to get creative is vital to making the right play.
If you’re reading this and have never spent much time being creative, please don’t worry. I would have told you the same thing 3 years ago. In fact, just like Bob Iger, I thought I was totally incapable of creativity, let alone Executive Creativity. But through a dedication to building a daily writing habit—a habit that has changed my life—my creative muscles have never been stronger. I feel more equipped to handle my role (and hopeful future roles) than ever before.
So, if I haven’t made myself clear already, I highly recommend you do the same: find a creative outlet and chase it. Don’t worry about failing at first, but instead give yourself grace and stick to the habit. I’m confident in time it will pay off.
Spark Notes:
Executive Creativity is a critical skill for leaders, involving the ability to shift from procedural thinking to innovative, outside-the-box problem-solving to tackle challenges, craft strategies, and inspire teams.
Even renowned leaders like Bob Iger emphasize creativity as integral to leadership, demonstrating its power in both high-level strategy and day-to-day decision-making.
Personally, cultivating creativity through writing has transformed my communication, relationships, and ability to close deals, while reinforcing confidence in shaping the future of my business.
Whether through hobbies like painting, fishing, or other creative pursuits, developing a habit of creativity fosters personal growth, professional success, and the ability to think dynamically in leadership roles.
