learn managing creative people from MAD MEN

My research is about the creative management, these days I borrowed some books in this topic from library, and also search the Internet to collect the relative informations. A website catch my eyes on it for a long time, this post is about the MAD MEN, author find a lot of manage theory from this TV series. I think the author is very cool, she can find some deep things from a popular TV series. I'd like to learn this discovery ability.

When Sterling Cooper’s new management, personified by Lane Pryce, criticizes the ad agency’s creative department for being a bunch of lazy alcoholics, Draper defends his team with a statement :

“You came here because we do this better than you, and part of that is letting our creatives be unproductive until they are.”

It is a simple word, but show the important thing that should be do for manage the creative people----" let creatives be unproductive until they are." To reach this goal, the author find some absolutely ways in episode.

1 build a creative workplace

In my research, I also focus on this point that build a suitable work environment for the creatives. The Google's central meeting space looked more like a spoiled teenager’s bedroom than anything else. Big screen TV, videogame controllers strewn about the floor, a pool table, crazy posters and snacks everywhere. The workers enjoy all had their own offices, but this is where they came to unwind, brainstorm, bounce ideas off each other while bouncing tennis balls off the wall. The workplace do not give them any pressure, so they can do creative work even sometimes themselves don't know exactly.

2 motivating the creatives

The author said "The creative department over at Sterling Cooper were not paid huge salaries, and yet they often worked into the evenings and over the weekends to meet important deadlines. But why would anyone do anything if the cash isn’t there? It has been proven again and again that creative people are not motivated by money.'' I find I missed this point at my research, sometimes, for some easy projects, the cash can let creatives work harder, but for a lot of jobs, they fall into the work not for the money, they just like the feeling like fight for their privilege. So, manager should notice that, and motivating the creatives by some different ways.

3 For the love of Pete, let them be unproductive until they are!

The talent's work style is so different from others. You always see him just sleep in the sofa，or play the video games whole day. As a manager, you will feel unsatisfied with him. But you should let him do what he want to do, maybe he is doing the brainstorm, after he got the idea, he will be productive right now. And must give you a perfect job. Then, he, go to sleep again. LOL.

I find it is so helpful that to read some relative materials, it really broaden my horizon, enlighten my views. Hope you all good with your researches~