Leaders / Designers

As our team here at PotentialStudios.tv is just about to start working on the next series, I started thinking, what if we approached leadership decision making like we do a new series design project.

A clean sheet.
 Every design starts with a clean blank sheet of paper, even if we are given a direction to go in or an idea from the creative planning team, we still begin with a clean sheet of paper. Every good leader should begin the process in this manner. Leave your ideas and assumptions at the door and lead from your values.

Hear what is being asked. 
The really good graphic designer will listen to what the needs are first, than design second. We need to grab a hold of the idea and bring the idea to fruition. A great leader will always listen first and ask question second.

Visualize.
 Designers, by nature, “see” our designs in our head first, by using our imagination. Leaders “see” the result before it becomes reality. They use their “vision”, so to speak

Inspiration.
 Designers need creative inspiration. We do research by viewing magazines, web sites, other designers’ work, to spark our creative juices. Leaders find inspiration from other leaders, read magazines, books, web sites and talk with other leaders to help them with the decision or project in front of them.

Rough Sketch.
 Design is about color, placement, typestyles, energy, and creativity. The end result is NEVER what we started with. We always hit the delete key far more than we do the save command keys! Leaders should always “rough draft” their decisions or projects. Brainstorm, brianmap, use whatever is available at the time, just always be willing to hit the delete key far more than the save command keys.

The Details.
 Designers spend a lot of time on the details. Color, white space, symmetry, etc. It’s never the main elements that makes or breaks the design, it’s the details. Many leaders fail to spend time working through the details of their decisions or projects. Take time for the details, it will make a difference.

Add your own feel. 
There’s a difference between technique and style. Every designer uses the same basic techniques, but no one has the same style. There are times you can look at a new design and instantly know who designed the piece. Leaders are much the same way. Leaders far to often, lead too much from technique and not enough from their own heart. Embrace the style God gave you and go with it.

Be Proud. 
Designers love to leave the own personal touch on everything they design. Leaders should ask themselves, “Am I proud enough to put my name on this project or decision?” If leaders truthfully asked them selves this question, it would certainly change the way leaders start new projects in the future.

Just thinking out loud.