--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The challenge is to manage creative…" description: "\"The challenge is to manage creative people so that the output is fruitful. The challenge is not to have an open environment and simply let them do what..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/john-kao-11833_challenge_the-challenge-is-to-manage-creative-peop_2303118.png" --- # The challenge is to manage creative people so that the… ![“The challenge is to manage creative people so that the output is fruitful. The challenge is not to have an open environment and simply let them do whatever they want.” quote by John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/john-kao-11833_challenge_the-challenge-is-to-manage-creative-peop_2303118.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/john-kao-11833_challenge_the-challenge-is-to-manage-creative-peop_2303118.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/john-kao-11833_challenge_the-challenge-is-to-manage-creative-peop_2303118.png) > “The challenge is to manage creative people so that the output is fruitful. The challenge is not to have an open environment and simply let them do whatever they want.” [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective leadership of creative teams requires balancing freedom with direction to produce valuable results. **In simple terms:** Guide creative people with structure, not chaos. Key Takeaway Provide clear goals while allowing autonomy. Themes leadership creativity management Mood balanced strategic Type advisory practical When to use this quote - product development - marketing campaigns - design studios - research labs Key Concepts organizational behavior innovation motivation Questions to Reflect On - How do you set boundaries that still inspire creativity? - What metrics indicate fruitful output? A Different Perspective Too much control can stifle originality; too much freedom can cause chaos. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Challenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenge/) [Challenge Manage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenge-manage-2603444/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-people/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Fruitful Challenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruitful-challenge-5449343/) [Manage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manage/) [Manage Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manage-creative-5297003/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Output](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/output/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Productivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productivity/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Time management is a misnomer, the challenge is to manage ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/time-management-is-a-misnomer-the-challenge-is-to-manage-ourselves/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [You can't manage the creative process on a quarterly basis. The way we're structured has really helped us grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-dubuc/you-can-t-manage-the-creative-process-on-a-quarterly-basis-the-way-we/) [Nancy Dubuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-dubuc/) > [The traditional model for a company like Coca-Cola is to hire one big advertising agency and essentially outsource all of its creativity in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/the-traditional-model-for-a-company-like-coca-cola-is-to-hire-one-big/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [The challenge is to manage the Web in an open way-not too much bureaucracy, not subject to political or commercial pressures. The U.S. should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-berners-lee/the-challenge-is-to-manage-the-web-in-an-open-way-not-too-much/) [Tim Berners-Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-berners-lee/) > [The challenge is not to manage time, but to manage ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-challenge-is-not-to-manage-time-but-to-manage-ourselves/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Coca-Cola can get really fresh output because it is getting people who are outside the traditional model and they are combining ideas in very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/coca-cola-can-get-really-fresh-output-because-it-is-getting-people/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [Obviously businesses do not operate like an artists' commune. Business involves deploying finite resources to achieve goals in a competitive environment to make money.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/obviously-businesses-do-not-operate-like-an-artists-commune-business/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [In a corporate context, companies have to try very hard to oppose the enticements of conventional wisdom. They must aim for the leaps, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/in-a-corporate-context-companies-have-to-try-very-hard-to-oppose-the/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [I'm a miracle man, things happen which I don't plan, I've never planned anything. Whatsoever I do, I want it to be an instant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-scratch-perry/i-m-a-miracle-man-things-happen-which-i-don-t-plan-i-ve-never-planned/) [Lee “Scratch” Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-scratch-perry/) > [By the year 2040, the world's population is likely to increase by about 2 billion people, with also projected economic output will be up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-tillerson/by-the-year-2040-the-world-s-population-is-likely-to-increase-by/) [Rex Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-tillerson/) > [Creativity is an input to innovation and change is the output from innovation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/braden-kelley/creativity-is-an-input-to-innovation-and-change-is-the-output-from/) [Braden Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/braden-kelley/) > [It makes very little sense to believe the output of the climate models.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/it-makes-very-little-sense-to-believe-the-output-of-the-climate-models/) [Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/) > [I have visited sweatshops, factories, and crowded slums. If I could not see it, I could smell it. The foundation of society is laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-have-visited-sweatshops-factories-and-crowded-slums-if-i-could-not/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Everything I've always done has been for the sole purpose of increasing my lovemaking output. A lot of guys won't admit that, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-fox/everything-i-ve-always-done-has-been-for-the-sole-purpose-of/) [Rick Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-fox/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) ## More by John Kao > [The impresario function is about intervening with the company's more administrative management structure. It is about trying to establish a sense of boundaries and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/the-impresario-function-is-about-intervening-with-the-company-s-more/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [The traditional model for a company like Coca-Cola is to hire one big advertising agency and essentially outsource all of its creativity in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/the-traditional-model-for-a-company-like-coca-cola-is-to-hire-one-big/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [If you are at Coca-Cola, the creative challenge is one of maintaining - rather than creating - a tremendous level of consumption for your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/if-you-are-at-coca-cola-the-creative-challenge-is-one-of-maintaining/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [In a corporate context, companies have to try very hard to oppose the enticements of conventional wisdom. They must aim for the leaps, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/in-a-corporate-context-companies-have-to-try-very-hard-to-oppose-the/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [Coca-Cola can get really fresh output because it is getting people who are outside the traditional model and they are combining ideas in very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/coca-cola-can-get-really-fresh-output-because-it-is-getting-people/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [All of these creative ideas and decisions about new ways to reach the consumer can be tracked with regard to how well they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/all-of-these-creative-ideas-and-decisions-about-new-ways-to-reach-the/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [The imagination is like a muscle: it strengthens through use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/the-imagination-is-like-a-muscle-it-strengthens-through-use/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [If you come up with a new product, you can very easily track its contribution to the bottom line. But often the challenge can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/if-you-come-up-with-a-new-product-you-can-very-easily-track-its/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [Companies have to take risks to get new knowledge, in a manner similar to how jazz musicians take risks when they go after a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/companies-have-to-take-risks-to-get-new-knowledge-in-a-manner-similar/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [Performers may play in the studio, but they need to go out and tour every once in a while to keep their edge, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/performers-may-play-in-the-studio-but-they-need-to-go-out-and-tour/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [You would not let your kids do whatever they want. So the challenge is to create accountability in a non-mechanistic way. You cannot come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/you-would-not-let-your-kids-do-whatever-they-want-so-the-challenge-is/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [There's real "right brain" creativity that goes into all of the organizational processes that a company utilizes and must continually reinvent in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/there-s-real-right-brain-creativity-that-goes-into-all-of-the/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [Instead of command and control, managing the creative process is about facilitating and permitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/instead-of-command-and-control-managing-the-creative-process-is-about/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [Rather than managing by clarifying events, the creative process may require raising the level of uncertainty. Sometimes this can be done by issuing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/rather-than-managing-by-clarifying-events-the-creative-process-may/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [The conventional asset-allocation method is like sheet music. It is prescribed, it has right answers and wrong answers and it sounds about the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/the-conventional-asset-allocation-method-is-like-sheet-music-it-is/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) [Explore all 57 John Kao quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) ## More Challenge quotes > [Politics only makes the difficult challenge of marriage even harder, with the demands of the job and the public spotlight it casts on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/politics-only-makes-the-difficult-challenge-of-marriage-even-harder/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [I personally think if something's not a challenge, there's no point doing it, because you're not gonna learn much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-personally-think-if-something-s-not-a-challenge-there-s-no-point/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men want a challenge, but they want a challenge they can win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-gaskell/men-want-a-challenge-but-they-want-a-challenge-they-can-win/) [Whitney Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-gaskell/) > [After 'Pink,' I wanted to do something that would challenge me further as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirti-kulhari/after-pink-i-wanted-to-do-something-that-would-challenge-me-further/) [Kirti Kulhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirti-kulhari/) > [Nobody challenges me. I challenge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/nobody-challenges-me-i-challenge-myself/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [Our whole thing was that we wanted to challenge ourselves and go out of the box that everyone else was doing, and even what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-real/our-whole-thing-was-that-we-wanted-to-challenge-ourselves-and-go-out/) [B-Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-real/) > [I wake up every morning fearing I am going to fail. But I love a challenge, big or small. There's so much I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-mone/i-wake-up-every-morning-fearing-i-am-going-to-fail-but-i-love-a/) [Michelle Mone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-mone/) > [I don't know about the rest of the world, but I know in our region everyone is gunning to beat us. We have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/i-don-t-know-about-the-rest-of-the-world-but-i-know-in-our-region/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [Sometimes the challenge of beating the jet lag and getting a decent sleep can be as hard to solve as finding the right setup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-grosjean/sometimes-the-challenge-of-beating-the-jet-lag-and-getting-a-decent/) [Romain Grosjean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-grosjean/) > [LMS is like PMS but totally different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lms-is-like-pms-but-totally-different/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do not underestimate the difficulty of the challenge that global climate change presents to us. It will take a significant effort and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-pena/i-do-not-underestimate-the-difficulty-of-the-challenge-that-global/) [Federico Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-pena/) > [I never back down from a challenge or oppenent!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-never-back-down-from-a-challenge-or-oppenent/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every scene is a challenge. 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