Management Tip of the Day: Apply the Right Kind of Pressure to Innovators

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   TIPS   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile AUGUST 14, 2012 Apply the Right Kind of Pressure to Innovators Too many managers unintentionally kill innovation by relying heavily on carrots and sticks to motivate employees. When it comes to creativity, there's good pressure and there's bad. For example, avoid applying extreme time constraints. Competitive pressure with coworkers can also be a killer. Instead, use positive pressure in the form of a challenging assignment that's tough but that the team has the skills to solve. If you give people an important problem that no one else has been able to crack, it can supercharge motivation and creativity. Today's Management Tip was adapted from "What Doesn't Motivate Creativity Can Kill It" by Teresa Amabile and Steve Kramer. Read the full post and join the discussion » Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT Us Plus Them: Tapping the Positive Power of Difference HBR Press Book Us-versus-them is the costly mind-set in which organizations too often find themselves trapped. In fact, recognizing difference as a positive force can bring astonishing value to even the most diverse organizations. Through a wide range of examples from small-town classrooms to corporate boardrooms, leadership scholar Todd Pittinsky opens our eyes to misunderstood yet useful aspects of us-and-them relations, including many of the neglected positive dimensions of difference. Pittinsky shows us that our great diversity experiment hasn't failed—it hasn't even begun. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS Create Raving Fans for Your Idea Demonstrate Your Credibility as a Leader Explore a New Career with an Informational Interview Reveal Your Intentions to Build Trust Motivate Your Problem Employee Introverts Can Still Innovate Give Your Organization a Marketing Makeover Create an Office Space that Encourages Teamwork Get the Most From Your Star Salespeople Get Your Boss to Say Yes All Previous Tips BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's Must Reads Library Set Guide to Persuasive Presentations Guide to Better Business Writing Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Introducing HBR's Morning Advantage The Harvard Business Review Morning Advantage delivers the latest business ideas from beyond HBR.org directly to your inbox every morning — and it is free! Sign up today >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2012 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)