Author: Elisa Warner Supporting creative differences through
leadership can help a project reach its potential. Recognizing
that enthusiasm is a more powerful motivator than coercion, most
managers adopt the style of a coach rather than a dictator.
While managing a team project, it’s sometimes difficult to
maintain structure without alienating staff or stifling
creativity. Practice effective leadership by maintaining clear
objectives while providing active interest and support of
creative differences. A project manager needs both soft and hard
skills to lead effectively. Achieving the right mix of
structure, creative freedom, and support will create the
conditions for communication, innovation, and productivity for a
team. Researcher Teresa Amabile’s 2004 study on team perceptions
of managers revealed that individuals most value the following
characteristics in their project leaders: awareness of work
activities; “socioemotional” support; public recognition of
performance; and inquiry and utilization of subor