One of the traits sales managers must have or develop is a mind that is creative. The day to day pressures and various situations that you face are ever changing and appear at a rapid pace, the need to consider various options, offer unique perspectives or provide your team with fresh ideas is a critical to your success.
In many of my keynote programs I discuss creativity and the need to ‘break out and grow” as you build a “Gourmet Life”-the great news is that you can develop your ability to be creative. One factor that is well known is rather than work on a specific problem, it is sometimes best to leave it alone and let your mind relax and even focus on something else and like magic a solution to the first problem will occur. This is why many ideas may come to you as you lay in bed, take a shower or even simply during a walk. Creativity happens not with one brilliant flash, but in a chain reaction of many tiny sparks while executing an idea.
Jackson Pollock is known as a creative abstract artist, he would throw paint on to a canvas as if his designs were spontaneous inspirations. In fact Pollock spent years learning to control his pours/splatters to achieve the effect he was looking for.
You can expand your ability to develop creativity by brainstorming with individuals outside of your normal environment. It’s all about creating ideas, evaluating them and executing on them. Another example is J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, in the 1920’s, 30’s they battled around religious and literary ideas with the “Inklings” as group of unfashionable Christian professors from Oxford. Their ‘creative” stories were actually the result of discussions, debates and planning.
Creative leverage attempts to combine left-brain and right brain activities. What are the steps?
1. Start from scratch, don’t let existing factors color your thinking
2. Make sure there is emotion, this helps stimulate the brain
3. Take risks, challenge yourself to look at unique ideas that may stimulate other ideas
In my keynote program we share the 13 actions one can take to enhance their creativity, if you need to expand your creativity you can find books, workshops and coaches to build your power. As a salesperson, sales leader, or manager you can build a better life by adding some spark to your thinking power. Take the summer challenge and expand your perspective.
