Randy Wolken, President and CEO of the Manufacturers Association of Central New York, has shared his thoughts on the importance of making time for creativity in leadership roles. In a recent message, Wolken described how stepping away from daily work routines can help leaders regain perspective and strategic thinking.
“As you read this, I’m on vacation. I needed to get away from the daily grind. For the first few days it was difficult to separate myself from work, but as I let it go, I began to relax and have been enjoying my time away. This is a pattern that many leaders feel when they get away. The first few days the brain desires the grind, because it’s part of our daily habit; it’s what we do. Then, slowly, we begin to settle into a gentler rhythm. You’ll find this rhythm can open you up to what’s possible in the future rather than being clouded by the present,” said Wolken.
He noted that getting distance from everyday tasks allows leaders to focus more on long-term strategy rather than immediate concerns. “When we get away from the grind, we give ourselves room to gain perspective. What seems critical in the middle of the daily grind becomes less important and the ability to think strategically reemerges. Leaders are tasked with thinking about both the present and future, but it’s the present that usually grabs the bulk of our attention. When we take time off, we can focus on assessing the future and determining what’s truly strategic and vital to our team and  business,” he said.
Wolken emphasized that feeding creativity should not be limited to vacations or breaks but should become a regular practice for leaders. “Getting away and finding our better selves also reminds us that we need to feed our creativity on a routine basis even when we aren’t taking time off. How do we remain creative during the rush of the day-to-day? Like anything we want to get done – we need to schedule it and be intentional about it. If we pay attention, we begin to know where we can best gain perspective. Sometimes it’s behind a closed door and some scheduled planning time. Sometimes it’s at the local coffee shop or at home in our favorite chair. We can find this place and this space if we look for it and actually spend time using it,” he explained.
He encouraged other organizational leaders not only to seek out their own moments for creative thought but also support their teams in doing so: “It all starts with recognizing we need creativity – and so do our businesses. It continues when we encourage other leaders in our organization to take time off and seek to gain perspective as well.”
Wolken concluded by asking fellow leaders where they find inspiration outside their routine responsibilities: “So, where do you find your creativity and inspiration? Where do you go to allow yourself to escape the daily grind and rejuvenate? When will you do it next? Will you encourage your team to do the same? There is no better time than now to plan your next creativity session. You need it as a leader, and your business and team needs it from you.”
