Welcome to "Harnessing the Ideas of Creative Teammates," where your journey begins in developing leadership skills tailored to team member personalities.

Before we dive into this ocean of learning, we will start with understanding some personality basics for the different types of behavioral styles you are likely to encounter as a people manager.

Let's kick off by understanding the OCEAN Big 5 Personality Model. OCEAN is an acronym that represents a well-researched, five-part model to help us understand the behaviors and natural tendencies of the people we work with and lead.

This model includes:

• (O) Openness to Experience reflects a person's level of creativity, imagination, curiosity, and openness to new ideas.
• (C) Conscientiousness refers to a person's level of organization, responsibility, dependability, and work ethic.
• (E) Extraversion is the extent to which individuals are outgoing, sociable, energetic, and seek stimulation in social environments.
• (A) Agreeableness reflects a person’s tendency to be compassionate, cooperative, and concerned about others' well-being.
• (N) Neuroticism is commonly referred to as Emotional Stability. High Emotional Stability (Low Neuroticism) is a person's tendency to be calm, composed, and resilient under pressure.

This first course starts your learning voyage across this OCEAN of personality by focusing on Openness to Experience. Teammates with High Openness to Experience tend to be imaginative, open-minded, adventurous, and curious about new experiences, ideas, and concepts.

Identifying methods to effectively lead creative teammates high on Openness to Experience will cultivate an innovative team environment where unique ideas can thrive. The more you appreciate their openness, the better you'll become at drawing out the creative potential within your team.

Let's begin by learning how to to effectively adapt your communication style when interacting with creative members of the team.

Creating space for unstructured brainstorming is pivotal when communicating with highly creative teammates. You can empower your team by setting aside time for them to let their imaginations run wild. This might look like dedicated "creative hours" or spontaneous idea sessions during regular meetings.

For example, you might say, "During this hour, feel free to pitch any concept without constraints." This approach not only encourages creative expression but also leads to innovative breakthroughs.

Unstructured exploration embraces the space for creative thought and encourages out-of-the-box thinking that is essential for innovation.

Being receptive to unconventional ideas is vital in motivating the members of your team that are high on Openness to Experience.

By asking questions to probe deeper into their original ideas, you show genuine interest in their perspectives. When team members see their unique ideas being considered, it boosts their confidence and willingness to suggest novel solutions. It's important to avoid rushing to judgment on the feasibility of unconventional ideas, as this can stifle creativity and limit potential breakthroughs.

Let's see these concepts in action in the following sample dialogue:

• Jessica: "Hey Jake, I heard about your new project idea. I'm intrigued by the concept and would love to hear more about it."
• Jake: "Sure, the idea is to develop an app that combines social media with real-time location sharing, but in a way that's never been done before."
• Jessica: "That sounds interesting! What innovative twist does your idea bring to the table?"
• Jake: "Instead of just sharing locations, users could set real-time 'meeting points' that adjust as people move."
• Jessica: "That's a unique take! How do you envision the user experience?"
• Jake: "User privacy is a concern we'd need to address, but we can focus on giving users control over their data."
• Jessica: "Great point. Let's keep exploring this approach. Keep the ideas coming, Jake!"

Your role when communicating with creative team members is to foster an environment where untraditional thinking is not just allowed but celebrated.

Lastly, keep discussions lively by breaking them into brief, diverse segments. For instance, a meeting with highly creative individuals might include a mix of short idea pitches, quick feedback sessions, and brief reflective pauses to synthesize ideas. You might conclude each segment with a thought like, "Let's jot down the top two ideas to explore further." This provides structure while allowing space for creativity to unfold naturally.

Avoiding long, detailed discussions on a single topic is crucial when working with creative teammates, as it helps maintain their interest and energy levels. Extended focus on one subject can lead to disengagement and limit the flow of new ideas. By keeping conversations varied and dynamic, you encourage continuous creative input, ensuring that the team remains vibrant and open to exploring different possibilities.

Prepare to practice these concepts through engaging role-play scenarios designed to enhance your ability to communicate effectively with team members who exhibit high Openness to Experience.