How to Lead Highly Creative Professionals: Balancing Creative Freedom and Management Rigor

Author Lina Echeverría shares leadership insights from her new book “Idea Agent”, based on her vast experience assembling and nurturing cutting-edge innovation teams at Corning Incorporated.

How do you lead highly creative professionals on your project without stifling them? How do you strike the right balance between creative freedom and management rigor that leads teams to deliver breakthrough innovation?

Lina Echeverría is an innovation leadership consultant with 25 years experience in creating and delivering science and technology innovation. In this interview, Lina shares valuable leadership insights from her new book “Idea Agent”, based on her vast experience assembling and nurturing cutting-edge teams at Corning Incorporated, one of America’s leading technology companies.

Lina offers seven proven principles for balancing creative freedom with management rigor. From unleashing passion and drive, and embracing productive conflict, to demanding excellence and structure while living values that liberate creativity, these seven principles help project managers unleash creativity and lead teams to breakthrough innovation.

Lina spent twenty-five years inspiring creativity and accelerating innovation at Corning Incorporated that provided the world with everything from the optical fiber that enabled the Internet to the tough glass used for iPhones. Lina led teams of scientists and researchers that developed everything from ceramic filters for car exhausts, glasses for TV screens, optical glasses, and dinnerware.

The Interview:

Listen now:

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Right click here to download the MP3

In this interview, I ask Lina the following questions:

  • What was the background for writing Idea Agent and what do you hope readers will gain from it?
  • In the book, you present seven passions that you consider to be essential elements to creating the culture of success in teams chartered with delivering innovation. How did you arrive at these seven passions?
  • In Passion 1: into the ring of fire, you talk about the need for leaders to understand what makes creative personalities unique and the importance of embracing and managing conflict. Talk a little bit about why this is important.
  • In Passion 2: let the best take flight, you emphasize the need to getting to know the creative people on your project and understanding what it takes to preserve the space for discovery and innovation. Can you elaborate on these ideas?
  • In Passion 3, you talk about living values that liberate creativity and you discuss the essential values that leaders need to establish in guiding their team or organization. Can you give us an overview of these values?
  • In Passion 4: demand excellence, you say that demanding excellence is not about creating a cult of perfectionism, but instilling a spirit of high performance.  Can you elaborate on this concept?  
  • In Passion 5: create a culture, you talk about three principles that culture of innovation, like any successful culture, relies on. What do you mean by culture and what are the three 3 essential principles for establishing a culture of innovation.
  • In Passion 6: structure a clear organization. You talk about the importance of establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and links. Talk to us about what happens to teams when structure is not established and why, oddly enough, a clearly defined structure provides freedom rather than restriction.      
  • In Passion 7: provide authentic leadership, you talk about how self-awareness and self-acceptance are the foundation from which all other leadership characteristics, such as courage, integrity, and empathy flow. Talk to us about why this is important?
  • Any final thoughts you would like to share about any of the big ideas in the book?

Links and Contact Information:

Audio Links:

Listen now:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Right click here to download the MP3

2 Responses to How to Lead Highly Creative Professionals: Balancing Creative Freedom and Management Rigor
  1. […] balancing “management rigor” and “creative freedom”, see my interview with Lina Echeverria: How to lead highly creative professionals. « Previous […]

  2. Mark Moore
    April 29, 2013 | 12:17 pm

    Creating cultures whether we realize it or not … that could be the most profound thought in this whole podcast (and that puts it pretty high in my book).

    We have to lead in an intentional way and understand the uniqueness the team brings. It is up to us to find the best ways to leverage individuality and still protect the collective that is the organization.

    Very powerful stuff here. You continue to bring us relevant content again and again.

How to Lead Highly Creative Professionals: Balancing Creative Freedom and Management Rigor

Author Lina Echeverría shares leadership insights from her new book “Idea Agent”, based on her vast experience assembling and nurturing cutting-edge innovation teams at Corning Incorporated.

How do you lead highly creative professionals on your project without stifling them? How do you strike the right balance between creative freedom and management rigor that leads teams to deliver breakthrough innovation?

Lina Echeverría is an innovation leadership consultant with 25 years experience in creating and delivering science and technology innovation. In this interview, Lina shares valuable leadership insights from her new book “Idea Agent”, based on her vast experience assembling and nurturing cutting-edge teams at Corning Incorporated, one of America’s leading technology companies.

Lina offers seven proven principles for balancing creative freedom with management rigor. From unleashing passion and drive, and embracing productive conflict, to demanding excellence and structure while living values that liberate creativity, these seven principles help project managers unleash creativity and lead teams to breakthrough innovation.

Lina spent twenty-five years inspiring creativity and accelerating innovation at Corning Incorporated that provided the world with everything from the optical fiber that enabled the Internet to the tough glass used for iPhones. Lina led teams of scientists and researchers that developed everything from ceramic filters for car exhausts, glasses for TV screens, optical glasses, and dinnerware.

The Interview:

Listen now:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Right click here to download the MP3

In this interview, I ask Lina the following questions:

  • What was the background for writing Idea Agent and what do you hope readers will gain from it?
  • In the book, you present seven passions that you consider to be essential elements to creating the culture of success in teams chartered with delivering innovation. How did you arrive at these seven passions?
  • In Passion 1: into the ring of fire, you talk about the need for leaders to understand what makes creative personalities unique and the importance of embracing and managing conflict. Talk a little bit about why this is important.
  • In Passion 2: let the best take flight, you emphasize the need to getting to know the creative people on your project and understanding what it takes to preserve the space for discovery and innovation. Can you elaborate on these ideas?
  • In Passion 3, you talk about living values that liberate creativity and you discuss the essential values that leaders need to establish in guiding their team or organization. Can you give us an overview of these values?
  • In Passion 4: demand excellence, you say that demanding excellence is not about creating a cult of perfectionism, but instilling a spirit of high performance.  Can you elaborate on this concept?  
  • In Passion 5: create a culture, you talk about three principles that culture of innovation, like any successful culture, relies on. What do you mean by culture and what are the three 3 essential principles for establishing a culture of innovation.
  • In Passion 6: structure a clear organization. You talk about the importance of establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and links. Talk to us about what happens to teams when structure is not established and why, oddly enough, a clearly defined structure provides freedom rather than restriction.      
  • In Passion 7: provide authentic leadership, you talk about how self-awareness and self-acceptance are the foundation from which all other leadership characteristics, such as courage, integrity, and empathy flow. Talk to us about why this is important?
  • Any final thoughts you would like to share about any of the big ideas in the book?

Links and Contact Information:

Audio Links:

Listen now:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Right click here to download the MP3

2 Responses to How to Lead Highly Creative Professionals: Balancing Creative Freedom and Management Rigor
  1. […] balancing “management rigor” and “creative freedom”, see my interview with Lina Echeverria: How to lead highly creative professionals. « Previous […]

  2. Mark Moore
    April 29, 2013 | 12:17 pm

    Creating cultures whether we realize it or not … that could be the most profound thought in this whole podcast (and that puts it pretty high in my book).

    We have to lead in an intentional way and understand the uniqueness the team brings. It is up to us to find the best ways to leverage individuality and still protect the collective that is the organization.

    Very powerful stuff here. You continue to bring us relevant content again and again.

How to Lead Highly Creative Professionals: Balancing Creative Freedom and Management Rigor

Author Lina Echeverría shares leadership insights from her new book “Idea Agent”, based on her vast experience assembling and nurturing cutting-edge innovation teams at Corning Incorporated.

How do you lead highly creative professionals on your project without stifling them? How do you strike the right balance between creative freedom and management rigor that leads teams to deliver breakthrough innovation?

Lina Echeverría is an innovation leadership consultant with 25 years experience in creating and delivering science and technology innovation. In this interview, Lina shares valuable leadership insights from her new book “Idea Agent”, based on her vast experience assembling and nurturing cutting-edge teams at Corning Incorporated, one of America’s leading technology companies.

Lina offers seven proven principles for balancing creative freedom with management rigor. From unleashing passion and drive, and embracing productive conflict, to demanding excellence and structure while living values that liberate creativity, these seven principles help project managers unleash creativity and lead teams to breakthrough innovation.

Lina spent twenty-five years inspiring creativity and accelerating innovation at Corning Incorporated that provided the world with everything from the optical fiber that enabled the Internet to the tough glass used for iPhones. Lina led teams of scientists and researchers that developed everything from ceramic filters for car exhausts, glasses for TV screens, optical glasses, and dinnerware.

The Interview:

Listen now:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Right click here to download the MP3

In this interview, I ask Lina the following questions:

  • What was the background for writing Idea Agent and what do you hope readers will gain from it?
  • In the book, you present seven passions that you consider to be essential elements to creating the culture of success in teams chartered with delivering innovation. How did you arrive at these seven passions?
  • In Passion 1: into the ring of fire, you talk about the need for leaders to understand what makes creative personalities unique and the importance of embracing and managing conflict. Talk a little bit about why this is important.
  • In Passion 2: let the best take flight, you emphasize the need to getting to know the creative people on your project and understanding what it takes to preserve the space for discovery and innovation. Can you elaborate on these ideas?
  • In Passion 3, you talk about living values that liberate creativity and you discuss the essential values that leaders need to establish in guiding their team or organization. Can you give us an overview of these values?
  • In Passion 4: demand excellence, you say that demanding excellence is not about creating a cult of perfectionism, but instilling a spirit of high performance.  Can you elaborate on this concept?  
  • In Passion 5: create a culture, you talk about three principles that culture of innovation, like any successful culture, relies on. What do you mean by culture and what are the three 3 essential principles for establishing a culture of innovation.
  • In Passion 6: structure a clear organization. You talk about the importance of establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and links. Talk to us about what happens to teams when structure is not established and why, oddly enough, a clearly defined structure provides freedom rather than restriction.      
  • In Passion 7: provide authentic leadership, you talk about how self-awareness and self-acceptance are the foundation from which all other leadership characteristics, such as courage, integrity, and empathy flow. Talk to us about why this is important?
  • Any final thoughts you would like to share about any of the big ideas in the book?

Links and Contact Information:

Audio Links:

Listen now:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Right click here to download the MP3

2 Responses to How to Lead Highly Creative Professionals: Balancing Creative Freedom and Management Rigor
  1. […] balancing “management rigor” and “creative freedom”, see my interview with Lina Echeverria: How to lead highly creative professionals. « Previous […]

  2. Mark Moore
    April 29, 2013 | 12:17 pm

    Creating cultures whether we realize it or not … that could be the most profound thought in this whole podcast (and that puts it pretty high in my book).

    We have to lead in an intentional way and understand the uniqueness the team brings. It is up to us to find the best ways to leverage individuality and still protect the collective that is the organization.

    Very powerful stuff here. You continue to bring us relevant content again and again.