As I said in the first blog in this series. One of the most pivotal revelations in my leadership journey was understanding my unique leadership voice. As a guide with Giant I was introduced and train teams in the 5 Voices model developed by Giant Worldwide. I have found the model to be a transformational tool giving teams a language to describe how they lead and collaborate with others.
The 5 Voices model helps cultivate psychological safety by providing a framework for understanding each other’s perspectives and communication styles. Understanding your voice, and those of your team, can create environments where everyone feels heard and valued.
In this blog post, we will explore the “Creative Voice”—one of the five leadership voices identified in the model. Uniquely this voice is best described in two ways either a Creative Pioneer or a Creative Connector, see which resonates with you. Knowing your strengths and challenges will help you lead yourself and others more effectively.
What is the Creative Voice?
The Creative is future-focused and driven by innovation. Creatives are the champions of future ideas, innovation and organisational integrity. You can struggle to communicate effectively and have idealist perfectionist tendencies. There’s a key distinction within this voice: we have Creative Connectors and Creative Pioneers. Both champion the same things, but their approaches and strengths differ in significant ways.

The Creative Connector: Vision with Relationships at the Core
Creative Connectors are visionaries who rely heavily on relationships to bring their ideas to life. They are master networkers, able to link people, resources, and opportunities together in ways that create innovation.
Strengths:
- Relational Leadership: Creative Connectors excel at bringing people together around a shared vision. They understand the strengths of individuals and how to align those strengths to achieve collective goals.
- Empathy and Inspiration: They are highly attuned to the emotional states of others, making them skilled at inspiring and motivating those around them. They know how to frame their vision in a way that resonates on a deep emotional level.
- Collaboration: Connectors thrive on teamwork and naturally create collaborative environments. They foster a sense of community and belonging, often acting as the bridge between diverse groups of people.
Challenge:
- Difficulty with Focus: Creative Connectors often have many ideas but can find it challenging to narrow down their focus to actionable steps. Without a clear plan, their energy can become scattered.
The Creative Pioneer: Vision with Strategy and Structure
Creative Pioneers, on the other hand, are strategic visionaries. They are often ahead of their time, seeing trends, challenges, and opportunities that others may not yet grasp. While they may seem headstrong, their approach is deeply analytical and grounded in long-term thinking.
Strengths:
- Future-Oriented Strategy: Pioneers excel at setting long-term visions and creating strategies to achieve them. They can analyse complex systems and develop innovative solutions to future challenges.
- Problem-Solving: Pioneers are natural problem-solvers who thrive in complex, uncertain environments. They are often the first to identify a problem and take the lead in finding a solution.
- Independence: While they value collaboration, Pioneers are self-sufficient leaders who are comfortable making difficult decisions independently. Their confidence in their vision helps drive forward momentum even in the face of uncertainty.
Challenge:
- Perfectionism: Creative Pioneers can struggle with perfectionism.
Leading as a Creative Voice
Key Insights:
- As a Creative Connector: Lean into your relational leadership, but don’t be afraid to let others take charge of execution. Use your empathy and ability to inspire to bring people together, but be mindful of staying focused on the big picture.
- As a Creative Pioneer: Use your strategic mind to set the vision, but remember that others may not see the world as you do. Take the time to communicate your ideas clearly and in a way that resonates with those around you.
Leading as a Creative Voice
The Creative Connector: Vision with Relationships at the Core
Creative Connectors are visionaries who rely heavily on relationships to bring their ideas to life. They are master networkers, able to link people, resources, and opportunities together in ways that create innovation.
Strengths:
- Relational Leadership: Creative Connectors excel at bringing people together around a shared vision. They understand the strengths of individuals and how to align those strengths to achieve collective goals.
- Empathy and Inspiration: They are highly attuned to the emotional states of others, making them skilled at inspiring and motivating those around them. They know how to frame their vision in a way that resonates on a deep emotional level.
- Collaboration: Connectors thrive on teamwork and naturally create collaborative environments. They foster a sense of community and belonging, often acting as the bridge between diverse groups of people.
Challenge:
- Difficulty with Focus: Creative Connectors often have many ideas but can find it challenging to narrow down their focus to actionable steps. Without a clear plan, their energy can become scattered.
The Creative Pioneer: Vision with Strategy and Structure
Creative Pioneers, on the other hand, are strategic visionaries. They are often ahead of their time, seeing trends, challenges, and opportunities that others may not yet grasp. While they may seem headstrong, their approach is deeply analytical and grounded in long-term thinking.
Strengths:
- Future-Oriented Strategy: Pioneers excel at setting long-term visions and creating strategies to achieve them. They can analyse complex systems and develop innovative solutions to future challenges.
- Problem-Solving: Pioneers are natural problem-solvers who thrive in complex, uncertain environments. They are often the first to identify a problem and take the lead in finding a solution.
- Independence: While they value collaboration, Pioneers are self-sufficient leaders who are comfortable making difficult decisions independently. Their confidence in their vision helps drive forward momentum even in the face of uncertainty.
Challenge:
- Perfectionism: Creative Pioneers can struggle with perfectionism.
Leading as a Creative Voice
Key Insights:
- As a Creative Connector: Lean into your relational leadership, but don’t be afraid to let others take charge of execution. Use your empathy and ability to inspire to bring people together, but be mindful of staying focused on the big picture.
- As a Creative Pioneer: Use your strategic mind to set the vision, but remember that others may not see the world as you do. Take the time to communicate your ideas clearly and in a way that resonates with those around you.
Action
How does this voice resonate with you?
For a deeper dive into the 5 Voices model and how to implement it in your leadership, reach out and explore the tools that can help you unlock your full potential. Book a discovery call here to learn more.