Acronym

The opportunity to be creative presents itself often. Whether I am starting a new project, revamping an old program, or trying to do more with less, I am confronted with the challenge of finding a creative solution or idea on a daily basis. While I love the opportunity to be creative, I find there is a huge roadblock in my way that keeps me from reaching my creative peak.

My biggest struggle is having the time to be creative with the vast number of responsibilities and projects on my desk. On top of that, timelines created by eager board members and committees can be too tight, and the business of board meetings and managing committees can be a huge time consumer. This time pressure creates a tug of war between "just get it done" and "how can we do this better." So how can we push through this roadblock?

The tried and true techniques for time management can get us farther down the path to creativity. Staying organized, prioritizing your projects and eliminating time wasters all help to create more time. But, I have found this is not enough. Here are four ways to win the time vs. creativity tug of war:

1. Be deliberate. Find opportunities to be creative. Make a note on your to-do list next to the things you would like to spend creative time.


2. Know your goals. Understand what matters most to your board. Those are the things you should spend most of your creative time on.


3. Know your role. Understand what your unique role in your association staff team is. Your creative energy should focus on the things you do that no one else does.


4. Pick your battles. You will not always win the tug of war. Choose your battles carefully based on your goals and role to make your creative energy count.

Kimberly S. Paugh is director of membership at Raybourn Group International in Indianapolis, Ind.