Many people hear the word creative writing and think nothing but poetry and short stories. While this is a huge element of creative writing, the truth is, creative writing can entail any sort of written word that helps inspire the imagination, portray an emotion, or discuss a situation. Not all writing has to be done to create a finished product. Sometimes, it just feels good to write, especially when you need to convey things that you can’t let anyone else hear.
Those who manage people professionally often come across these types of scenarios. Even though you can reach out to close friends and loved ones to talk about issues with the people you manage, none of these friends are truly savvy to the ins and outs of your real work situation, and sometimes the best thing to do is say exactly what you want to say on paper, rather than out loud. This is where creative writing can be a huge help for anyone dealing with people, especially from the top, down.
If you manage people and are having issues at work, try grabbing a pen and pad and free-writing about the situation or work in general. There are many ways the process of creative writing may help alleviate the issues.
First, free writing allows you to say exactly what you mean without being held accountable. As a manager, it is just not an option to say exactly what you would like to say when you would like to say it. You are dealing with multiple people, all of whom have different personalities, backgrounds and hang-ups, and your job as a manager is to help everyone work together. The last thing you would want out in the open in a negative rant about any of your employees or work projects. Even when speaking in private to uninvolved parties, there is a tendency to self-censor or portray the situation in a way that supports your own case. With creative writing, you can allow yourself to write down anything you are thinking with no recourse.
Second, after you’ve had an opportunity to do some free journal writing, you can look back on it later to gain insight into the situation and your own feelings. Sometimes, when we have a problem at work, our mind is suddenly swirling with emotions, ideas, and procedural and legal demands that must be taken into account. The opportunity to read about how you really feel (and get that out of your head) can be so helpful in taking a more evenly keeled stock of the situation. You may come to recognize a co-worker’s point of view better, or you may finally figure out what it is that irks you about a particular employee.
Finally, after reading your own creative writing and getting a better view of your own feelings, you can gain clarity on how to approach the situation. Maybe you are the one who can easily change the situation be adjusting your attitude. Or, maybe, after reading a pile-up of complaints against one of your employees, you will finally come to the conclusion that it is time to let them go. No matter what, you will be able to view and process the situation with fresh eyes and come to a conclusion that you may not have otherwise.
For those of you new to free-writing, all you need is yourself and your preferred writing tools. Try to find a quiet place, and start out writing as if you are telling the story to a friend or therapist. As you continue writing, let yourself note anything that crosses your mind, and don’t be afraid to get completely off topic. You never know what kind of information and clarity you will receive from letting your thoughts have free range.
Byline:
This is a guest post by Kristie Lewis from construction management degree. You can reach her at: Kristie.Lewis81@gmail.Com.
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