Leading a creative team requires a balanced approach.. У нас в агентстве во время креативных сессий можно творить что угодно - это называется "выгоняем взрослых и зовем на помощь внутренних детей". In general, come up with ideas however you like, even sitting on the ceiling, the main thing is to come up with something cool!

Praise, listen, and of course, pay extra - how to manage a creative team in numbers

To trust experts or not is everyone's choice; however, statistics deal with numbers, so taking into account research results is useful for business success. The event agency "Aventura" conducted a survey among event industry experts and found out why it is necessary to shift the start of the working day, how notebooks of bold decisions can help, and why it's time to send biographies of successful people to the trash.

Creator in full set

What are the qualities of a standard creative employee? 67% of respondents believe that an event organizer must be productive and original, and most importantly - capable of generating unusual and bold ideas. In addition to this, it is worth noting resourcefulness, responsibility, and commitment. By the way, 83% of respondents called themselves creative individuals.

It is commonly believed that women naturally possess good intuition and a more developed creative element. However, 78% of experts claim that gender does not matter in an unconventional approach to problem-solving and in the level of creative talent. 15% even noted that men have greater creativity than women.

What makes up an ideal team of event organizers?

The majority of experts consider stress resistance and organization as the main characteristics of a professional team of event organizers; this is logical since the work of an event manager is associated with constant stressful situations, communication with various people, tight deadlines, and coordination of numerous contractors.

Any creative idea should be reasonable; otherwise, it simply won't be useful to the client; therefore, creativity and rationality are equally important for successful work of the organizing team.

Cohesion and harmony within the team also play a significant role because if there is mutual understanding within the team, they will find common ground with both clients and contractors. According to experts, experience, literacy, and flexibility take fourth place among the necessary qualities of an organizing team. And finally, such necessary qualities as adequacy and diplomacy close the list although it's difficult to put them in last place.

Praise, listen, and of course pay extra

Obviously, a motivated employee is a productive employee; but how to find this secret button for motivating each creative person? The event agency "Aventura" found that the most effective way to motivate creative individuals is to praise them for their successes (20%). Creative individuals always treat their work products with trepidation; therefore speaking about their uniqueness and timely acknowledging their merits is crucial.

The second most popular options for motivation (at 19%) were the reward in monetary equivalent and the opportunity to express their professional opinion. In third place, maintaining informal relationships and conducting team building activities accounted for 13% each. Providing a flexible schedule for timely task completion, as it turned out, motivates only 12% of event organizers.

Mikhail Glushenkov, head of the event agency "Aventura

Our agency has developed a clear motivation system that contributes to the productive work of the team. For example, bonuses are provided for each project, for creativity, or for attracting new clients. To motivate employees to be punctual, we came up with a fun ritual: anyone who is late must do 10 squats for every minute of lateness. This kind of incentive affects both work efficiency and is beneficial for health.

As alternative ways to motivate a creative team, experts suggested visiting theaters, museums, world and regional shows with colleagues; going on joint trips. Respondents also considered it important to involve employees in making strategic decisions and setting interesting tasks. By the way, providing freedom of action also motivates event organizers for productive work. is developed and the idea is approved, every organizer faces the question: where to hold the event? To ensure a successful event, it is necessary to choose a suitable venue. It should correspond to the goals and objectives of the event. Today, there is a wide variety of spaces to suit every taste. The only thing left is to determine the scale, necessary characteristics, and price range. As alternative ways to motivate a creative team, experts suggested visiting theaters, museums, world and regional shows with colleagues; going on joint trips. Respondents also considered it important to involve employees in making strategic decisions and setting interesting tasks. By the way, providing freedom of action also motivates event organizers for productive work.

Exchange experiences more often and keep a notebook for recording bold decisions

In search of inspiration, most respondents prefer to interact with new interesting people and exchange experiences (23%). Also, 18% of event organizers are inspired by relaxation, walks outdoors, and traveling. 15% of those surveyed write down any bold decisions in a notebook and believe that overcoming laziness is the main condition for finding inspiration.

In some cases, listening to motivating music can lead to watching inspiring movies or listening to favorite music, as well as solitude, meditation, and sports activities (11%). Experts also recommend in search of inspiration to "focus on positive results," "generate motivation from favorite activities," and "not be afraid to experiment.

The most beautiful and inspiring feeling on earth - love - can contribute to creative uplift and even a surge of ideas. According to experts, studying the biographies of successful people and reading helps less than all previous options.

Just let your employees get enough sleep

Everyone experiences stressful moments in life, and accumulated fatigue eventually makes itself felt. In this case, a vacation can help an employee; but what if an entire team is tired due to a hectic schedule or a series of complex tasks?

Most respondents believe that this problem can be addressed by shifting the workday by an hour and allowing employees to get enough sleep (33%). Many note that the ability to come to work later for several days also increases productivity; however not every organization can afford this.

Another equally effective way to combat fatigue is joint recreation (28%). Walks during lunch or after work, visiting entertainment venues also contribute to relieving tension in the team. An interesting fact is that delicious food helps to cope with bad mood and fatigue by 16%.

Experts from the event agency "Aventura" found that some work teams practice joint sports activities, swimming, or yoga (12%). A less popular option for combating fatigue (7%) turned out to be collective movie watching or listening to good music.

Мария Гальперина, Bright People 

In my opinion, the most important tool for combating stress is humor. In the company, we joke and laugh a lot, which greatly lightens the atmosphere. We recently held a stress management training, and in the summer, we went out for a barbecue by the lake with a creative workshop and sports games.

Respondents also suggested that "changing activities for a short period", "providing the opportunity for the team to feel needed in the organization system", "group intellectual and active games: charades, mafia, paintball, etc." can help relieve stress.

22% of respondents consider the lack of specificity in setting tasks as the main mistake of managers

Find balance

The most damage to the productive work of the team is caused by the leader himself, setting either too strict or too lenient discipline in the company (29%). The same applies to working hours: creative people should not be given too tight deadlines, but at the same time, overly vague ones should not be given either, otherwise there is a risk of not achieving anything or encountering laziness.

Evgenia Glushenkova, Executive Director of the event agency "Aventura

Managing a creative team should be balanced. In our agency during creative sessions you can create anything - it's called 'we drive out the adults and call on our inner children for help.' In general, come up with whatever you want, even sitting on the ceiling, the main thing is - come up with something cool! But at other times there are discipline and a whole set of rules that need to be followed. If you give a team of creatives complete freedom - it will be a bacchanalia. These guys still need to be systematized and controlled.ь."

Let's get specific

Often the boss himself does not fully understand what result he expects from work; how can an employee guess what is expected of him? Setting tasks on the principle of "go there - I don't know where; bring that - I don't know what" became the second most common mistake of managers according to those surveyed (22%).

Maintain distance of authority

Sometimes the clear work of a creative team is hindered by the banal lack of subordination between the leader and subordinates - this mistake accounts for 16% of the total. For successful work of every creative team, it is necessary to have an independent leader who can regulate such extraordinary work.

Set priorities and avoid idleness

According to 80% of experts, the habit of focusing on the main things and setting priorities correctly will definitely help to cope with lack of time. In addition, it is necessary to learn to delegate tasks rather than do everything yourself. Also, 17% of success lies in the ability to set all your goals and tasks.

Specialists from the event agency "Aventura" advise analyzing the work done, as it helps to structure your activities and take into account mistakes. In addition, in conditions of colossal idleness, it is important to plan work and not forget about rest. After all, a tired person can never work productively.