As the global economic crisis keeps curbing our wellbeing, we keep hearing about prescriptions based on becoming more “creative.” As budgets get cut, organizational leaders repeat ad nauseam to their teams that they must be “more creative.” But do they know what they are asking for?Conceptually, no one in his/her right mind can be against proposition. “Boosting creativity” thus is becoming a mantra, or – if you will - the overarching strategic tool to trigger the transformation required. But do we understand what it takes to be more creative?

Impressive titles are nice. Impressive offices are nicer. And big salaries are even better. But none of these make you a leader. Your capacity to plan, budget, organize, staff, supervise, direct, communicate or engage in problem solving will help you be a better manager – but they do not make you a leader. Moreover, even if your job description states you are expected to lead, this does not make you a leader. After all, leading is not a job. So, what defines your being and a leader and – moreover – excelling at it?

The best hope for improved performance and an eventual sustained growth is to create a culture that genuinely and continuously taps into the wisdom and abilities of your people — a culture where the capacity to make choices and to transform those choices into desired actions and outcomes is disbursed throughout the organization. Employees who own their work and take responsibility for their results will outperform those who don’t. How then do you empower your organization?

In a typical organization as many as 90% of the workforce is meeting or exceeding job expectations. So, how do you distinguish yourself as a superior organization? How do you move your organization from one simply depicted as “successful” to one characterized as “high performing” ? Most fundamental: What is a 'high performing organization"?

There are two different schools of thought when it comes to improving individual and organizational performance. One school tries to improve areas of weakness, while the other looks to raise the bar and make strengths even stronger. Who is right?