The Surprising Link Between Creativity and Strong Leadership

Last weekend, I went to my friend’s cottage.

Before I arrived, I decided I wanted to make this weekend completely screen-free. No email. No Instagram. No LinkedIn.

Rather, I wanted to spend some time doing something creative and tactile.

So, I bought some string and decided to make a macramé bracelet! This is something that I haven’t done since I was a kid.

Why Learning New Skills as a Leader Matters

Let me tell you, it wasn’t as easy as I remembered.

At first, I couldn’t get the knots right. I wasn’t sure how tightly to pull the string. At one point, I was chatting with my friend and lost track of the pattern entirely.

I made mistakes. But I didn’t stop. I kept going, knot by knot, mistake by mistake.

And when I finished that bracelet, I felt so proud of myself! Honestly, it felt like a real accomplishment.

And, of course, it got me thinking about leadership. (Because doesn’t everything?)

3 Leadership Lessons from My Macramé Experience

Here are three takeaways that stuck with me from my macramé experience:

1. Keep learning new things yourself.

Trying something new is humbling. Making mistakes is frustrating. But pushing through and finishing anyway is so energizing. It builds resilience. It reminds you what it’s like to be a learner and that empathy makes you a better leader.

2. Don’t let mistakes stop you or your team from trying something new.

As leaders, we often forget what it feels like to be a beginner. Tasks that now feel second nature to us once felt awkward, even intimidating. When you delegate to your team, remember that they are still learning.

Mistakes aren’t a setback; rather, they are a sign of growth in motion.

If you want your team to stretch, learn, and lead, then you need to create space for trial and error. Progress isn’t always tidy, but it’s always worth it.

3. Have more fun.

Leadership doesn’t always have to be so serious. When you step away from the day-to-day grind, even briefly, and do something playful or creative, it will remind you that fun belongs at work, too.

Fun fuels connection, creativity, and fresh perspectives.

Let’s be honest, we could all use a little more of that!

Taking Action: Your Next Steps as a Learning Leader

So go try something new!

Don’t let your mistakes stop you from making progress. Keep going.

If you’d like a tutorial on macramé bracelets…reach out! I’ve got you covered!