Creativity and Leadership: How the Arts Can Improve Business Strategies

Abstract

Introduction. Recent studies consider creativity as a source of innovation for companies but have not yet clarified the key role that it plays concerning management and the underlying organisational processes. Recent studies also provide a foundation for a direct link between creativity, leadership, and corporate innovation. Purpose and methods. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to highlight the importance of creativity within the corporate context and stimulate an understanding of the dynamics underlying leadership as a hub for innovative ideas and proposals dissemination in organisations. The scientific research methodology is developed through the theoretical investigation of the theme of creativity with innovation and how it can pervade the organisational sphere through the leadership development. Results. The analysis of the main theoretical models allows us to identify strong dynamic connections between creativity, business innovation, and leadership and to develop and improve interventions guided by a different business vision. At the same time, I illustrate how an adequate leadership style can positively influence the work team, producing significant improvements in thoughts, feelings, and subordinates creative performance. Conclusions. Leaders who wish to sustain high performance should pay special attention to their daily behaviour towards employees, in particular by contributing to the dissemination of creativity in the company. Shared participation in artistic activities, in fact, by enhancing the individuality of employees, contributes to the strengthening of the management image that supports initiatives and participates in them. Creativity thus finds fertile ground in the goodness of ordinary company practices.

Keywords

• innovation
• leadership
• artistic intervention
• organisational development