The Mythical Creative Temperament
| Category: Business Development | Date: 2003-09-12 |
It doesnt take much to see that the Internet is a creative medium. LOTS of creativity involved. Web sites are creative efforts - marketing is a creative effort - software design is a creative effort - not to mention all the writing thats done for various reasons. So, needless to say, were constantly working with creative people online.
I was raised in a family of creative people - people from the entertainment business. I was trained to be a performer from the age of 3. By age 15, I was a "professional" in the sense that I was a member of the American Guild of Variety Artists and was paid outrageous sums for a teen-ager dancing in musical productions.
I put "professional" in quotation marks because although my membership in AGVA made it formal, I had been taught professionalism from the cradle. I ultimately became a choreographer, married a choreographer and spent the next 16 years in one of the most creative industries there is. Entertainment.
So, what does that have to do with the Internet? Well, during the course of my career in the entertainment field I learned a few things about professionalism. I also had beau coup experience with prima donnas. Now, I find some of that experience being repeated on the Internet.
Bear in mind that a "prima donna" may be a woman (diva) but may just as easily be a man. Would we then call him a "prima danna?" I dont know but I do know that the urge to be temperamental to the detriment of a project is not limited by gender.
Think of your current Internet project as a production. If it is your own project, consider yourself the director. As the director, it is most likely your idea - your reputation - and your money on the line. It is also your absolute right to ask for what you want from those involved and expect it to be delivered in the best interests of the production.
Now look at the people involved. Heres how you can tell the difference in whether you are working with a professional - or a prima donna. And remember, its actions - not words - which will tell the story, no matter what the claim.
Professionals show up - and show up on time, if not early - in case there are problems to correct.
Primas show up when they please - usually late - and expect everyone else to wait for them. Nothing can happen without the primas permission, you see.
The professionals first concern is for the production. The very basis of professionalism is everyone showing up and doing whatever is necessary to get the show on - in a timely manner. That includes everything from making creative changes without complaint - to mopping up a stage if thats what is necessary.
The primas first concern is for their own fragile ego. (S)he usually considers him/herself a unique edition of some talent which precludes doing anything outside this "specialty."
Professionals dont fall in love with any creation until it does the job it was created to do. Needed revisions are done calmly - without complaint - and in a timely manner.
Primas create something - fall in love with it simply because it IS their creation - and want to call it finished. Any needed changes are looked upon as a personal affront which will, in turn, bring about extremely rude behavior. The prima will also not hesitate to make personal revisions - without consulting, or even informing you - which could disrupt your other plans completely.
The professional neither claims, nor accepts that, "It cant be done," without even trying. (S)he will look for and/or experiment with an answer before giving up the idea and turning to a completely different solution. This is simply a matter of willingness.
The prima will ALWAYS claim, "It cant be done," rather than change a tiny detail of their beloved creation. It would never occur to an Internet diva that if a graphic cant be optimized small enough to load in less than 6 minutes - you throw it out and create another graphic.
Professionals are willing to admit errors. They make necessary corrections with appropriate apologies. They have no problem accepting responsibility for their mistakes.
Primas never MAKE mistakes. If anything is not as it should be, responsibility will be shoved off on someone else. Or - you will be challenged as to whether the mistake even exists.
The professional will follow direction and make necessary changes in the manner outlined by the director of the project. This will be done quickly so the project can move on without unnecessary hold-ups. These people are time-savers.
The prima will ignore direction and proceed to try completely different ideas, rather than what was specifically asked of them, in the effort to prove their position that, "It cant be done." Getting the requested revision will waste hours, if not days, of your time. As the director, you will end up doing not only your job - but their job too.
Professionals are a joy to work with due to their attitude and flexibility. If they have an idea, they will share it - along with solid reasons to implement it into the production. If they see a potential problem with a request from the director, they will explain their reasons in a logical and non-confrontive manner.
Primas are a drain on the time and energy of everyone who has to work with them. Anything other than their own ideas are met with the childish temperament of whiny, snippy remarks - if not temper tantrums. Temper tantrums may even take the form of passive-aggressive "mistakes" which create further chaos.
As the director, you cannot run a professional project if you are having to expend time and energy on someone who holds things up with temperament rather than getting the job done as needed. You actually have a duty to your project if you expect it to succeed.
Sometimes, we make mistakes in our choice of people to help us with our projects. It is not unusual to completely miss the prima donna attitude until you are already deeply involved in your project. Often, it doesnt appear until revision time. When it surfaces, decisions may be called for - and the sooner the better.
You do not need anyones permission to have things done the way you want them - and you certainly dont need it with any "attitude." When the time for revisions comes, the prima donna will sabotage your project with the mythical "creative temperament."
Why do I say its mythical? Because after many years of working closely with both professionals and primas, I have come to a solid conclusion. Creative temperament is nothing more than the childish behavior of someone who needs constant attention and will demand that attention without regard to the consequences to your project - or to themselves.
If you are involved in a project where you are NOT the director - and wonder if the prima donna descriptions in this article might be describing you - I can only say this. If you think they are - youre probably right. You might want to consider growing up.
About the author:
dr. jl scott is the Director of the International Council of Online Professionals (iCop) - and also the publisher of MONDAY MEMO! - the ezine dedicated to upgrading Professionalism on the Web. For your FREE subscription: Monday-Memo-on@MondayMemo.org
:To contact see details below.
jlscott@i-Cop.org
http://www.i-cop.org/
I was raised in a family of creative people - people from the entertainment business. I was trained to be a performer from the age of 3. By age 15, I was a "professional" in the sense that I was a member of the American Guild of Variety Artists and was paid outrageous sums for a teen-ager dancing in musical productions.
I put "professional" in quotation marks because although my membership in AGVA made it formal, I had been taught professionalism from the cradle. I ultimately became a choreographer, married a choreographer and spent the next 16 years in one of the most creative industries there is. Entertainment.
So, what does that have to do with the Internet? Well, during the course of my career in the entertainment field I learned a few things about professionalism. I also had beau coup experience with prima donnas. Now, I find some of that experience being repeated on the Internet.
Bear in mind that a "prima donna" may be a woman (diva) but may just as easily be a man. Would we then call him a "prima danna?" I dont know but I do know that the urge to be temperamental to the detriment of a project is not limited by gender.
Think of your current Internet project as a production. If it is your own project, consider yourself the director. As the director, it is most likely your idea - your reputation - and your money on the line. It is also your absolute right to ask for what you want from those involved and expect it to be delivered in the best interests of the production.
Now look at the people involved. Heres how you can tell the difference in whether you are working with a professional - or a prima donna. And remember, its actions - not words - which will tell the story, no matter what the claim.
Professionals show up - and show up on time, if not early - in case there are problems to correct.
Primas show up when they please - usually late - and expect everyone else to wait for them. Nothing can happen without the primas permission, you see.
The professionals first concern is for the production. The very basis of professionalism is everyone showing up and doing whatever is necessary to get the show on - in a timely manner. That includes everything from making creative changes without complaint - to mopping up a stage if thats what is necessary.
The primas first concern is for their own fragile ego. (S)he usually considers him/herself a unique edition of some talent which precludes doing anything outside this "specialty."
Professionals dont fall in love with any creation until it does the job it was created to do. Needed revisions are done calmly - without complaint - and in a timely manner.
Primas create something - fall in love with it simply because it IS their creation - and want to call it finished. Any needed changes are looked upon as a personal affront which will, in turn, bring about extremely rude behavior. The prima will also not hesitate to make personal revisions - without consulting, or even informing you - which could disrupt your other plans completely.
The professional neither claims, nor accepts that, "It cant be done," without even trying. (S)he will look for and/or experiment with an answer before giving up the idea and turning to a completely different solution. This is simply a matter of willingness.
The prima will ALWAYS claim, "It cant be done," rather than change a tiny detail of their beloved creation. It would never occur to an Internet diva that if a graphic cant be optimized small enough to load in less than 6 minutes - you throw it out and create another graphic.
Professionals are willing to admit errors. They make necessary corrections with appropriate apologies. They have no problem accepting responsibility for their mistakes.
Primas never MAKE mistakes. If anything is not as it should be, responsibility will be shoved off on someone else. Or - you will be challenged as to whether the mistake even exists.
The professional will follow direction and make necessary changes in the manner outlined by the director of the project. This will be done quickly so the project can move on without unnecessary hold-ups. These people are time-savers.
The prima will ignore direction and proceed to try completely different ideas, rather than what was specifically asked of them, in the effort to prove their position that, "It cant be done." Getting the requested revision will waste hours, if not days, of your time. As the director, you will end up doing not only your job - but their job too.
Professionals are a joy to work with due to their attitude and flexibility. If they have an idea, they will share it - along with solid reasons to implement it into the production. If they see a potential problem with a request from the director, they will explain their reasons in a logical and non-confrontive manner.
Primas are a drain on the time and energy of everyone who has to work with them. Anything other than their own ideas are met with the childish temperament of whiny, snippy remarks - if not temper tantrums. Temper tantrums may even take the form of passive-aggressive "mistakes" which create further chaos.
As the director, you cannot run a professional project if you are having to expend time and energy on someone who holds things up with temperament rather than getting the job done as needed. You actually have a duty to your project if you expect it to succeed.
Sometimes, we make mistakes in our choice of people to help us with our projects. It is not unusual to completely miss the prima donna attitude until you are already deeply involved in your project. Often, it doesnt appear until revision time. When it surfaces, decisions may be called for - and the sooner the better.
You do not need anyones permission to have things done the way you want them - and you certainly dont need it with any "attitude." When the time for revisions comes, the prima donna will sabotage your project with the mythical "creative temperament."
Why do I say its mythical? Because after many years of working closely with both professionals and primas, I have come to a solid conclusion. Creative temperament is nothing more than the childish behavior of someone who needs constant attention and will demand that attention without regard to the consequences to your project - or to themselves.
If you are involved in a project where you are NOT the director - and wonder if the prima donna descriptions in this article might be describing you - I can only say this. If you think they are - youre probably right. You might want to consider growing up.
About the author:
dr. jl scott is the Director of the International Council of Online Professionals (iCop) - and also the publisher of MONDAY MEMO! - the ezine dedicated to upgrading Professionalism on the Web. For your FREE subscription: Monday-Memo-on@MondayMemo.org
:To contact see details below.
jlscott@i-Cop.org
http://www.i-cop.org/
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