What’s it like working with creatives?

Working with creatives is what makes me tick! Brainstorming ideas and seeing them evolve into a finished product is such an amazing feeling, as is being a part of the creative journey.

Organising creative people however can be a challenging task, as they often have their own unique processes and ways of working. I’ve found that with the right approach and tools, it’s possible to effectively manage a creative team and ensure that projects are completed on time and to a high standard. 

Here are some of the difficulties of organising creative people and how to overcome them: 

Managing different working styles: Creative people often have their own unique working styles and processes, which can make it difficult to manage them as a team. To overcome this, it's important to set clear guidelines and expectations for how the team will work together and be flexible in accommodating those styles. 

Communicating effectively: Creative people can often be passionate and expressive, which can hinder communication. To overcome this, it's important to be clear and direct in your communication and to provide constructive feedback. 

Managing competing priorities: Creative people often have a lot of ideas and can be easily distracted by new opportunities (this is common!) To overcome this, it's important to set clear priorities and to ensure that everyone on the team is aligned and focused on the same goals. 

Dealing with uncertainty: Creativity often involves a lot of experimentation and trial and error, which can make it difficult to plan and organise effectively. To overcome this, it's important to be flexible and adaptable and to be prepared for uncertainty and change. 

Managing passion: Creative people can often be passionate and confident in their ideas, which can lead to conflicts and tension within the team. To overcome this, it's important to foster a positive and supportive environment, where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas and feedback.

Balancing freedom and structure: Creative people often thrive in an environment that allows them to be free to explore their ideas and be creative, but also need structure to stay on track and on schedule. Finding the right balance between freedom and structure is crucial to managing a creative team effectively.

I love working with creative people as I bring organisation, calm, and focus to their world, keeping them on track and accountable for their amazingly brilliant ideas! Regular communication and clear actions are particularly useful to get tasks completed on time. I love allowing creatives to enter their zone of genius by supporting them with all the bits they find difficult to keep plans staying on track.