Comments on: When to Kill and Release the Creativity Of Others

By: Patti

Patti — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 21:47:02 +0000

I’m not sure I follow your restatement completely, Dan. But, in my post above, ALL of those people are volunteers and are among the donors who make everything go, as well. We hit heavy on the priesthood of all believers model, so staff in our scenario aren’t the only leaders. I’m staff, but I’m on two teams with volunteer area leaders; I’m leading a different team with both staff and volunteer membership. The metaphor breaks down (as they all do) when you try to customize it too much for a particular point. But, no, I don’t think one of these approaches is exclusively the best – there are good and bad points of each as applied.

By: Dan Brownson

Dan Brownson — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 14:28:10 +0000

In reply to Leneita. I agree both leaders care about growth, but we need to ask the question about what type of growth are they trying to achieve? Are they trying to fill seats or wash feet?

By: Dan Brownson

Dan Brownson — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 13:54:28 +0000

Lets ask Tony’s question a different way. Would Lorne’s approach work if he needed to create a SNL for Kids, a SNL for Tweens, a SNL for Young Adults, a SNL for new members, along with SNL for Small Groups. Also instead of paid staff the majority of the production people are just volunteers. In addition the production takes place in 4 different studios throughout the country? The only funding SNL would receive would be through direct contributions from people who watched this show. Ontop of everything, he would need to put on this show 52 times a year (verses 20 times a year).

Does Loren’s current model of leadership (Command and Control) scale up to something that would work in this situation?

By: Shawn

Shawn — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 04:47:05 +0000

Great thoughts Leneita and Patti.

In a church & business setting, I agree that both types of leadership are needed when it comes to creativity. Lorne’s approach helps reel in people who are creative, but who think they’re more creative than they actually are. Where Rick’s approach helps free people to be creative who haven’t really had a chance to do so, or who are often limited by others.

It’s a both/and approach that’s needed.

By: Darren Sutton

Darren Sutton — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 19:22:09 +0000

I actually don’t think either of these men are truly fostering or smothering creativity. I think they’re merely taking differing approaches to vision casting. They see the end – they take differing roads to get there. So at the end of the day, it’s up to the person being led to choose the road they resonate with most profoundly…rather than to change the course.

By: Patti

Patti — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 16:31:48 +0000

Dan, I wonder if it isn’t a both/and? I would consider the team leaders in my church plant to have both roles, weighted one way or the other dependent upon their team’s role in the overall picture. For example, the service AV/tech teams often need to be creative problem solvers on the fly, play a role in the creative production of the pieces of a Sunday service, for example, but there is a certain degree of “we need simply [this]” that is more along the lines of what Lorne Michaels was saying. Then, there are the teams whose members are part of the creative element development process – teaching team, creative planning, communications, connections, first impressions – who we NEED to innovate, but also need to be clear that every idea may not be the right one. But, we are committed to struggling through the both/and together, coaching and encouraging team leaders and members equally to keep engaging their roles fully. Just a thought.

By: Leneita

Leneita — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 22:05:27 +0000

It’s interesting the two leaders have different perspectives on creativity, when on the outside looking in I would call SNL the more creative of the two organizations. I think you need both approaches when it comes to the church. I think if the two leaders were in the room in many ways they are saying the same thing. There is a leader “in charge” seeing the larger picture and what it will take to get there. So Lorne isn’t saying you can’t be creative he is saying there is a larger goal to reach. If you look at the way Rick Warren leads there is a clear structure and goal. So he might say you don’t reign in creatives however he does. He puts up a fence and let’s leaders go within the confines of the fence. But let’s not misbelieve there is no guidance.

Both leaders care about growth. Lorne has created longevity as has Rick Warren. Both care for growth – and both are needed at different times.

By: Dan Brownson

Dan Brownson — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 19:22:23 +0000

Key difference: Lorne Michaels is not trying to grow the size of Saturday Night Live staff. He is just trying to create a consistent experience. Rick Warren is focusing on growing his church. Saddleback church has 200 different ministries in 10 different locations and serves 20000 members per week.

My take away is if your goal is a consistent experience then it is a good idea to reign in creativity, but if your goal is to grow and multiply then releasing creativity and decentralizing ownership is required.