I’m close to (slowly) finishing Ed Catmull’s Creativity, Inc. It’s a fun book because almost every page is packed with helpful information and ah-ha moments. I tend to rip through non-fiction books, but I’ve decided to take this one slowly. It’s worth it.
Catmull talks frequently about hidden problems–problems that the creative type doesn’t see because he or she is so close to the project. For example, it’s great to have a director so enthralled with his or her work that care is put into every frame of the film. Sometimes, however, a director can get too close. When this is the case, it’s important that people are bold enough to confront the director about such things as poor decisions or loss of perspective. If this doesn’t occur, it’s to the detriment of the movie.
The same thing goes for managers. Often, people who rise to management quickly cease receiving the same communication they heard beforehand. The dialogue dries up, and the inexperienced manager might believe it’s because everything is going swimmingly. This is when problems can occur.
In every area of life, communication is important. When the back-and-forth stops–for whatever reason–problems arise. This is why feedback should be given and sought by everyone.
On that note, I enjoy hearing the perspective of everyone who visits R&C. If you have any thoughts about the blog, please share!
RISE AND CONVERGE 