Most people assume creativity is just for artists—but the truth is, it’s one of the most valuable leadership skills you can have. Creativity is the difference between leading with boldness or just playing it safe. If you want to think differently, solve bigger problems, and lead with confidence, you need to start treating creativity as your biggest leadership asset. In this article, Will Day, Award-winning Abstract Painter-Artist, shares how to use creativity as a leadership advantage—so you can lead with bold ideas and greater impact.
“If you are alive, and you have a soul, you are an artist. Because every minute of the day we show up, we are creating different realities.”
– Ashish Kothari
Creativity Comes from a Place of Vulnerability
Most people think creativity is about talent or inspiration, but true creativity starts with vulnerability. Creativity requires you to step into uncertainty, take risks, and express yourself fully—even when there are no guarantees. Whether you’re leading a team, making a bold decision, or innovating, creativity forces you to let go of perfection and embrace the unknown.
Leadership works the same way. Great leaders don’t wait until their ideas are perfect—they share them before they’re fully formed, invite collaboration, and refine them through action. While many think vulnerability is a weakness, it’s actually the beginning of innovation, trust, and meaningful impact. If you want to turn creativity into your biggest leadership advantage, start with being vulnerable and true to yourself.
“Until you put yourself in a place of vulnerability—until you truly have to be relentless, open, and empathetic—you never know what your God-given talents are.”
– Will Day
Creativity Builds Resilience in Leadership
While vulnerability fuels creativity, resilience sustains it. Creativity isn’t just about self-expression—it’s about pushing through failure, adapting, and finding new solutions when things don’t go as planned. Creativity allows you to endure setbacks with resilience and transform them into opportunities for reinvention.
Think of an artist who makes a mistake on a canvas. Instead of scrapping the entire piece, they adapt, layer, and repurpose until something new and unexpected emerges. As a leader, you can do the same. Instead of seeing obstacles as roadblocks, view them as raw materials for innovation. Creativity isn’t just about making something new—it’s about navigating the unexpected, rebuilding from failure, and continuously evolving as a leader.
How Leaders Can Apply Creativity as a Daily Practice
Creativity isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you build. It’s not about having a rare gift or waiting for the perfect idea to appear. It comes from consistently showing up, experimenting, and refining your work over time. Here are ways you can apply creativity as a daily practice:
✅ Show Up Even When It Feels Uncomfortable – Artists don’t always know what they’ll create, but they still show up. As a leader, commit to trying new ideas, exploring different perspectives, and staying open—even when the path isn’t clear.
✅ Move Your Body to Fuel Your Mind – Exercise isn’t just for physical health—it’s essential for creativity. Whether it’s hiking, skiing, or a simple workout, movement resets the mind and boosts problem-solving ability. Research backs this up—studies show that exercise increases cognitive flexibility, helping you think more creatively.
✅ Create Without Fear of Judgment – Many people are afraid to show their true creative side. In leadership, you need to let go of that fear—for yourself and your team. Embrace bold ideas and risk-taking without immediate judgment.
✅ Trust the Process – Creativity isn’t instant. Sometimes, you have to paint over mistakes and keep refining. As a leader, accept that the best ideas evolve over time. Be patient, keep iterating, and believe that creativity is built, not born.
✅ Find Stillness to Let Ideas Flow – Intentionally create a space for reflection and stillness. Leaders often fill their schedules with meetings and tasks, but creativity thrives when there’s room to think. Schedule time to pause, reflect, and let new ideas emerge.
✅ Encourage Creativity in Your Team – Creativity isn’t just for artists—it’s for everyone. As a leader, foster an environment where your team feels safe to brainstorm, experiment, and challenge the norm. The more you cultivate creativity in others, the more innovative your leadership will become.
✅ Stay Connected to What Matters – Creativity thrives when you’re fully engaged in life, not just work. Make non-work time sacred. Spend more time with the things that matter most to you, like your family, friends, and community. Don’t let leadership consume you—great ideas come when you step away and recharge.
Artists don’t create masterpieces on their first try, and leaders don’t make perfect decisions every time. Both require trial, error, and the willingness to adjust. When you treat creativity as a skill—one that can be strengthened through practice—you open the door to greater adaptability, innovation, and impact.
Conclusion
Creativity is about pushing boundaries and not staying stuck in old ways of thinking. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not creative,” it’s time to shift your perspective. Remember that leadership, just like art, is about creating something new, embracing the unknown, and inspiring others in the process.
By adopting the mindset of an artist—showing up, pushing through failure, staying present, and leading with relentless creativity—you’ll not only become a better leader, but you’ll also unlock your true potential to create, innovate, and inspire.
Your leadership is your canvas. Are you ready to make creativity your biggest leadership advantage?
Creativity isn’t just for artists. In this Happiness Squad Podcast episode, Ashish Kothari and Will Day, Award-winning Abstract Painter-Artist, shares how to turn creativity into your biggest leadership advantage—and why it’s the skill that will set you apart.
Learn more about Will at his LinkedIn.
Listen to the podcast with Ashish and Alex below.
Access and subscribe to all of the episodes of the Happiness Squad Podcast here.
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