Behance Network is not about creativity but productivity

• distinguish urgent vs. important: have 2 lists
• generate ideas in moderation: they can be addicting
• spend energy on staying organized: creativity * organization = impact
• organize with a bias to action
• the action method
  • action steps
  • back burner items: must review regularly or you may never do them
  • reference items: pile up, usually don’t get used again

• measure a meeting in action steps
• don’t just meet because it’s monday
• publicize productivity
• advertise action to yourself
• create a back burner ritual: go through your list once a month to convert to action items
• have a culture of capturing action steps
  • write it down
  • go around and list items
• reference items
  • save sparingly
  • seldom actionable
  • tag with action step
• attraction breeds loyalty
• prioritize projects visually: make an energy line and list current actions
  • extreme (only 2 or 3 items)
  • high
  • medium
  • low
  • idle (inactive)
• create action areas: a communal place to collect actions that anyone can do
• capture action everywhere, then forget about it

community

• seek cross-pollination
• share ideas liberally
  • others hold you to your actions
  • can get refined through discussion and iteration
• share ownership of ideas
• fight your way to breakthroughs
  • more terrain will be explored
  • push past comfort level
• don’t be burdened by consensus: not everyone can be happy without mediocrity setting in

leadership

• leaders talk last (silence the visionary)
  • rather than first, where everyone panders to their ideas
  • engage everyone
  • start with questions instead of answers
• value the team’s immune system
  • create a time to debate
  • cynics add value too
• take the team’s temperature
  • cool & calm
  • pressured but positive
  • pressured, turning negative
  • stressed
• always move the ball forward
• seek restraints
• judge based on initiative (not experience level)
• present yourself (overcome the stigma)
  • play on your strengths
  • be notable
• unique is opportune