7 Ways that Managers Can Help Artists Fit into Their Corporate Environment
In my experience as a graphic designer I am aware that we can be "quite the pill" to manage because we can appear temperamental, sensitive, and are more prone to "burn out" than any other type of employee. Our edgy behaviors may seem "over the top" and not aligned with the corporate initiative, however it is important to note that your creative people are so much more dedicated to your company than what appears at the surface. We spend hours of our personal time researching what the competition is doing [to make our company better], we research the latest in designs at the bookstore/internet, and we constantly strive to perfect our craft to make our company's designs become best in the industry. We love what we do and pursue our work with an indescribable passion towards visual perfection. To an artist, their work is an integral part of themselves and each and every part of the business reality becomes their complete existence, voiding out just about anything else in their lives. It is important that managers understand our creative processes to bring out our personal best as professionals. Here are seven ways that you, the manager or sales professional, can do to nurture your creative employee's best:
#1: Don't Box Us In!
Designers, artists, and other creative people cannot live in a cubicle. Our vivid imaginations need open and non-restrictive spaces as much as possible and this cannot be done if we are placed "in a boxed" environment. Our minds need open space, air, and light to bring out our personal best. I can honestly state that in working environments where I was allowed to move around without that "horse stall" feeling, I became content, more creative, and stayed there longer because I did not feel contained.
#2: Ditch the 9-5 schedule!
Although getting rid of the "9-5" schedule seems to spit in the face of what most consider "normal" working environments; it is important to note that creative people often resent schedules and intensely despise getting into a "rut". Creative people work for their company as much as 24/7, occasionally dreaming about how to make the company better. For some, the requirement of punching in and punching out may seem redundant and often "grays" out our universe. If possible, working from home or even working "four-ten" hour days each week [having Fridays off] is favored and would make a creative person or creative team flourish.
#3: Give Us Our Music
The creative brain needs creative outlets from their environment, although many managers frown on the use of music at work- the designer needs their environment to be "stimulating" to operate at their personal best.
#4: Let Us Talk to Our Colleagues [Occasionally and within reason]
Creative people, like me, can be reclusive from spending all of our personal time perfecting our "craft" and we need people to talk to. We certainly do not want to take up too much time talking; we just want to be reminded, occasionally, that we are still human beings.
#5: Let Us Design Our Workspace
A creative person needs the ability to control their environment, to build it better, and to alter their "white space" into a living "breathing" space. This requires something more than just buying some contemporary office furniture. A designer may want a couch or even print out a customized wallpaper [that he designed himself] on the inkjet printer to embellish those boring white walls.
#6: Take It Easy On the Criticism
I am personally and painfully aware of how obsessed I was with my work; if I made the occasional mistake, it would crush my spirit. Artist, designers, and production artists are masters of their craft and take their work very seriously. The demands of the print and design industry require the creative professional to be both imaginative and perfect at the same time, which is virtually impossible. In essence you are asking Leonardo Di Vinci to be an accountant as he is painting "The Lord's Supper". We try our best to fit into corporate environments, but we are fallible by reason of our creative process and will make mistakes. Be understanding and take it easy on the criticism, that person may already be upset enough by the mistake more than you can ever imagine.
#7: Wear "Earplugs" when we complain
Perhaps one of the most important things of all creative people is that we need to vent! Often our colleagues are less than perfect and can occasionally become abusive and manipulative. To a creative person, our work is our lives and we mistakenly believe that everybody should be as passionate about our employment as we are. The demands of our creative lives requires us to be dedicated beyond what others in our company are willing to do and we do not understand why our colleagues do not care as much as we do. Every corporate environment has people who do not pull their load and creative people may need to complain, let them vent their frustrations as long as it does not bother anyone.
Take into consideration that we are obsessed with excellence and would want our employer to be responsive to our needs. We also need encouragement and less "brow beating" about our mistakes. Working in the design industry has become increasingly more demanding as our customer's expectations of technology are not within the norms of today's reality. Customers keep demanding products faster without the knowledge of the necessary processes that it takes to get it there. We make our company appear to be virtually invincible against the competition and a little understanding along the way will establish a lifelong partnership with your creative team or individual.
-Author, Angela Johnson
