on managing creative people by mark krawzcuk

What have you learned from managing creative people?
People say managing creative people is like herding cats.

 Herding cats. 

Herding cats. “If you wanted to herd things, you should have gotten sheep,” is my first rebuttal.

The other thing is, “Why did you hire cats in the beginning?” You have cats around because they kill mice. So I find with creative people, if they’re cats, what you do is you say, “There’s a barn over there full of mice. Bring them back dead.” You don’t tell a cat how to kill a mouse. A cat just knows how to do it. What you have to do is give them direction and guidelines. I find the same thing with creative people. "Here’s the problem. I’m looking for you to come up with the solution." And then creative people will respond.
You have to inspire them. You have to provide challenges. They do it in creative ways.