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Four-volume series on creative entrepreneurship

A four-volume series comprising a collection of more than thirty different research projects is the crowning glory – so far – of a five-year partnership between Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School and Flanders DC.

In their book entitled "Werk maken van een creatieve economie" (Working towards a creative economy), Professor Leo Sleuwaegen and Isabelle De Voldere argue that Flanders can only be competitive if it goes all out for a creative economy in terms of entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership. Professor Hans Crijns, Professor Marion Debruyne, Veronique Warmoes and Professor Herman Van den Broeck then present case studies, questionnaires, checklists and tips & tricks for creative managers and entrepreneurs that shed light on these three aspects. LannooCampus publishers will officially launch the series on 23 June, but here’s an exclusive glimpse of what’s in store.

Creative leadership

"Leidinggeven met creativiteit", Veronique Warmoes and Herman Van den Broeck

Focus: The person behind the creative leader

Questions:

• What is creative leadership?
• How can you lead a team so creatively and innovatively that it gives you a competitive advantage?

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Each of us is different and will pick up, absorb and respond to information differently. This has to do with your cognitive style. What is important information for one person will be only a detail for another. Every leader also has a preferred style. One of these styles is creativity: devising and recognising opportunities. Not every leader is creative, but then, not everyone has to be. A leader can just as well put together a team in which some members make up for the lack of creativity in others. A team needs thinkers and doers, people that have ideas and others that can put them into practice. A complementary team lifts itself to a higher level, ensuring that it stands out from its competitors.

A few suggestions for creative leadership

• Dare to think out of the box, both for yourself and for your team. Do not confine your field of endeavour too rigidly. Leave room for creativity!
• Question your leadership. There is a wealth of material available for developing self-reflection and self-training and for giving insight into your critical thinking processes (see www.vlerick.com/onlinetools, for instance).
• Dare to break out of your mental models. Dare to think differently! Break out of the leader-team-and-organisation mindset.
• Focus on your strengths. Everyone has strong and weak points. Try to optimise your organisation by putting your staff's complementary strengths to good use.
• Dare to take risks.

Mission accomplished?

Veronique Warmoes: “I'll consider the book a success if a business leader reads it and then dares to question himself or his team or if he tries one of the best practices.”

Creative innovation

"Innoveren met creativiteit", Marion Debruyne

Focus: Innovative strategies and processes

Questions: 

• What is innovation?
• How can I innovate?
• How can I think differently about innovation?

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Innovation is more than R&D, inventing things and putting new products on the market. Innovation is possible in all businesses; it is not restricted to industrial environments. Companies do not necessarily have to invest a lot in R&D to come up with something innovative. There are so many other ways. Innovation is actually marketable creativity.

A few suggestions for creative innovation

• Broaden your vision.
• Think further than your own R&D.
• Also look at the expertise that is already available. Sometimes it is enough to recognise things, to combine them, to apply them differently or to see them in another perspective.
• Think beyond product innovation. You can also innovate in your approach to the market or in your business model.
• Learn from innovations outside your sector.

Mission accomplished?

Professor Marion Debruyne: “If the book makes readers start thinking differently about innovation, then I'll consider it a success.”

Creative entrepreneurship

"Ondernemen met creativiteit", Hans Crijns

Focus: Creative entrepreneurship in practice

Questions: 

• What is creative entrepreneurship and how can it help me?
• How do you get started with creative entrepreneurship?
• How can you grow creatively?

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Entrepreneurship is not the same as managing. Managing has to do with control, command and giving direction. Entrepreneurship means creating something from nothing by keeping your eyes and ears open, thinking creatively, seeing opportunities in the market and then setting to work. Entrepreneurship comes first, management follows later. Successful entrepreneurs can launch their idea and keep their business running and growing by creatively creating added value.

A few suggestions for creative entrepreneurship

• Be daring. Creativity is a start, but you also have to show what you can do. For that you have to dare to take risks.
• Dream.
• Think. Be creative.
• Get to work. Realise your creative ideas. Try to get them on the market.
• Persevere. Adjust your creative ideas when you need to. Keep going in good times and bad.

Mission accomplished?

Professor Hans Crijns: “I hope as many people apply the ideas as buy and read the book.”