Who’s Your Muse?

Back when I was teaching at Georgetown University in Washington DC, I was walking one day through the neighborhood around the campus and passed by a small architectural firm that I had passed by dozens of times before. This time, though, as I glanced through the windows I noticed photos on the wall, older black and white photos of men and buildings. One of the employees was walking out at that moment so I stopped and asked her about the pictures, if maybe they were the founders of the firm.

“Oh no,” she said, “we are only a couple years old. Those are our inspiration.”

She went on to tell me that each of the architects was encouraged to find a photo of an architect who inspired them and hang it at their desk. It’s a constant reminder of why they got into architecture. It keeps them connected to the history of their field. Plus, there is always the sense of a mentor looking over their shoulders.

This struck me as pretty cool. These folks are not just working at a job, they instead feel like they are part of something bigger, something timeless. They are adding to the work of those who came before them, with the unspoken message that what THEY do can serve as an inspiration for someone down the road. What is important is being an architect, not being an employee of XYZ Incorporated.

That’s an interesting thing about creative employees. Their loyalty is more often to their field of interest than it is to a particular organization. Acknowledging that, and facilitating that connection to their field, can be a useful way to help them feel more connected to your company as well. If they feel like your company “gets it,” they will be more inclined to see it as a place where they would like to stay.

One of the more interesting things about Creatives is that they tend to be inspired to pursue their field, rather than just falling into it. These photos on wall were a reminder that someone, somewhere, somehow sparked an interest. You don’t see a lot of bureaucrats pointing to someone who made them really want to be a bureaucrat (but wouldn’t it be great if you did?). One of your most important functions as a leader is to harness your employees’ interest and passion and channel those feelings into something good for your organization. Nurturing an interest in creativity, rather than just interest in a paycheck or bonuses, can make for a more involved and enthusiastic Creative.

Who knows, if you are really good at it, maybe someone will hang YOUR picture next to their desk.