Leadership and Communication

An important aspect of leadership is the ability to effectively communicate: to employees, investors, the media, large groups of people, individuals, and through speech and writing. Communication is especially important in creative industries because leaders must convey sometimes abstract visions or goals, and progress can be difficult to measure, predict, and convey in more volatile markets.

Mattel’s website claims that “ ‘Leadership’ at Mattel is the ability to develop and communicate a compelling picture of the future that insures and motivates others to take action.” Robert A. Eckert is the CEO, and as a leader in a large public company whose success is embedded in its creativity and ability to see cultural trends, he has the important task of communicating Mattel’s success and future outlook to the public.

Though Mattel’s comment on leadership has an upbeat and positive orientation towards the future, it is also important for leaders to identify and communicate the less pleasant reality of future risks and obstacles. Acknowledging and communicating risks is important for three reasons: it prepares the company so employees can have back-up plans, it keeps employees and investors from being completely surprised if the risks become a reality, and it communicates an honest assessment of the company so that investors and potential investors have access to the knowledge to which they are entitled.

Mattel’s 2006 10K risk sections does not live up to this level of detailed and honest communication. In comparison to Google’s 10K risk section, which spells out and exhaustive list of 41 possible risks, Mattel’s risk section is vague, short, and obvious. Perhaps Robert Eckert and Mattel’s leadership team chose not to disclose Mattel’s future risks so thoroughly to the public, but the risks that they have chosen to share do not paint a clear and straightforward picture for investors. Factors that they list, such as business being seasonal, recalls, and political developments are all real risks, but these risks are not very specific to their company. A leader like Robert Eckert should see the risks that no one else has thought of, and by making sure they are spelled out to all of Mattel’s stakeholders, keep the company prepared and the public informed.

The Ideal Leader...

What might my "ideal" CEO be like? It's easy to first think of what I don't want in a leader:

Because I want to work in a creative setting, I don't want a leader who just does things "the way they are" and is afraid to change anything or take risks. I don't want a leader who looks over my shoulder waiting for me to make mistakes, like the one from Office Space. I don't want an authoritarian leader who just tells me what to do. And I don't want a leader who encourages "extreme employees" and keeps me glued to a cubicle all day.

So, what would my ideal leader be like? My ideal leader would have the same qualities I would hope to have in leadership positions. He or she would encourage creative, out-of the-box thinking, be open to taking risks, and bring out the unique, diverse qualities of each employee. He or she would cultivate an informal and positive work environment and value a healthy work/life balance . My ideal leader would give me freedom in my projects, empowering me and encouraging autonomy. Rather than lead formal meetings, my ideal leader would facilitate group discussions and value each employee's input. I think that this type of leader would bring out the best qualities I could offer to an organization.

Betsey Johnson: A Creative Leader

I've always admired Betsey Johnson for her creativity and ability to design and sell unique, whimsical clothes. She has created a style that she herself embodies with her outlandish wardrobe, hair, and makeup. How does she do it? Looking at the areas of leadership: Personal, Organizational, Knowledge, and Cultural, I think Betsey Johnson is most visibly strongest at the Cultural and Personal levels. At the Personal level, Betsey Johnson has confidence in herself and her designs, and she's not afraid to be different. Inc. Magazine even listed her as one of the 25 most Fascinating Entrepreneurs, "for her stylish life." (See: http://www.inc.com/magazine/20040401/25johnson.html). She is perhaps the greatest advertisement for her clothing--when you buy Betsey Johnson clothing, you buy into a piece of her "stylish life" and the whimsical world she creates through her boutiques, website, and designs.

It requires a great deal of strength in the Cultural arena to survive in the fashion industry, especially considering the outlandishness of some of Betsey Johnson's designs. Betsey Johnson was able to break into the competitive fashion industry because she had a strong vision and was able to communicate it to others. Betsey Johnson Inc has thrived because of Johnson's ability to see and predict trends, and her ability to adapt in the broader cultural context to make her clothing marketable year after year.

What's not as immediately obvious is that Betsey Johnson is also a strong leader in the Knowledge and Organization quadrants. She owns her own company, requiring the talent to direct others, make good financial decisions, adapt to the market, and communicate her creative vision. Her technical skills in fashion design are clearly seen in the quality, fit, and creativeness of her clothing.
For more information on Betsey Johnson check out her bio at

http://www.betseyjohnson.com/bio.html

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog on Creativity and Leadership. Like I said in the description, I want to look at the special challanges and characteristics that apply to leaders in organizations where creativity is the most important "raw material." I hope my future career involves art, design, or at least a strong component of creativity. Maybe one day I'll find myself in a positions of leadership, or even better, own my own company (wishful thinking? I'm still young and can believe in these unrealistic dreams...). What qualities will I need to help share my creative visions with those I lead? How could I encourage creativity in my employees? In this blog I hope to explore these questions by looking at theories on leadership, examples of leaders in creative industries, and the industries themselves. Enjoy!

(This pic is of my designs I did at the Summer Intensive program in fashion design at Parsons. Fashion is one of the industries I'm interested in exploring.)