Creatives be like: “Well, now I’m on this boat” (1a)

This article is the beginning of a four-part double series about my take on what happens in our heads when we, professionals in the creative field or clients, can’t seem to work in a project’s best interest. In each one of these articles, I’ll be exploring a train of thought that I think we all had at some point in our heads when working together. I’ll be following them with tips on how to overcome our thoughts and feelings and make sure both sides are rowing smoothly in the same direction.

1 — Creatives be like:
a) “Well, now I’m on this boat”
b) “I’m on this for way too long to give up now”
c) “I don’t want to fail the client” — SOON —
d) “I thought I was a good enough designer” — SOON —

2 — Clients be like:
a) “I actually prefer our old logo" — SOON —
b) “I don’t feel it…” — SOON —
c) “Our customers won’t like it” — SOON —
d) “I don’t think you really understand our values or what we do” — SOON —

Isn’t it hard when you have to represent everything that your client and their business stand for in just a logo? The good thing is, it doesn’t have to be because you’re not supposed to work that way.

You probably already lived a situation like this before and I’m not breaking any news here. Even though we are professionals at our jobs, we are well qualified to do it, have processes, and are paid for doing it, there can be certain forces that push us toward doing something that we know isn’t right.

Why does this happen?

Looking at ourselves first…

I’m sure there are tones of different reasons for us to allow and accept this kind of situation to happen. Since it would be super impractical and pretty much impossible to write about all of them, I’ll be focusing on just four trains of thought that I think could be the most poignant. It’s important to take time to better understand ourselves, our thoughts, feelings, and the consequences that come from them. Just as importantly, we should put ourselves in others’ shoes so we can be understanding and have the tools to better disarm any uncomfortable situation.

a) “Well, now I’m on this boat”

This train of thought makes us feel there’s an obligation to keep rowing. It’s a false sense of inevitability that keeps us from making decisions that might contradict the client’s perspective and possibly jeopardize the relationship. We feel our hands tied because we just agreed to the terms of the work and “making waves” this soon in the project would be unpleasant to everyone. We ignore the red flags because the relationship with the client is just now beginning and maybe it’s just an adjustment period.

What can we do about it?

One thing that we collectively need to understand is that the beginning of a project, or any relationship, is the best time to set the tone for the future. There are fewer assumptions about how things will unfold, so it is fairly easier to set the tone now rather than later in the project. The hard part here is knowing what it means to you to have a great relationship with a client and, therefore, knowing how to set the tone.

This insight comes with time and experience, but even the most seasoned professionals need a minute to collect their thoughts and past experiences. With that said, what I propose to you, whether you’ve been working professionally a long time or not, is to sit at your desk for about 2 hours with a piece of paper and try to put into topics your top 5 to 8 keys to a great relationship. You can always adapt this list throughout the years and adjust the number to what best works for you. When you have it, present them to your new client at the beginning of the project and before signing any contracts. This way, you AND your client can easily jump the boat if necessary.

Yes, this goes both ways. You will present your terms, but don’t forget there’s a person and a professional on the other side. Be considerate, reasonable, and appropriate. With that, you’ll be also reminding your client that there is a person and a professional on this side as well.

Now, imagine that you already agreed to your client’s terms because you didn’t present any of your own and the dynamic of the job is being fully dictated by your client. Maybe you’re in the middle of the second work week with the client, so it seems to be too late to vocalize your discomfort with the dynamic.

There is no obligation to do anything that you feel uncomfortable doing. By saying something, you are not necessarily putting your relationship in jeopardy. The fact is, you have the full power and control in your hands on how you will approach this topic and minimize any possible backlash.

Forget emails and ask for a call or a meeting. Be ready to open up and start by showing your concerns about the consequences of bringing this up. Explain your concerns and how they are affecting your work, but especially, how they are affecting the success of the project. Honesty is your best ally in this situation because even the toughest client appreciates it. If not because they are sensitive and preoccupied with others’ well-being, because it will lead to faster and more efficient work, rather than unnecessarily spending time, resources, and money. And remember, you’re a professional, so avoid personalizing your concerns unless your client does it first or unless that’s a key element on your list that you don’t want to compromise on.

All good relationships require work and moments to evaluate everyone’s feelings about how things are going. A lot can be left unsaid if we don’t create the space for that to happen so, a good practice that you can implement with your clients is creating Check-In Moments specially dedicated to that purpose. Have moments not to talk about the work that is being done, but about the HOW the work is being done. Suggest it to your clients and arrange with them how often it should happen and in which molds. To start the dialogue, bring your own suggestions to the table first.

Thank you so much for reading!

Hopefully, you, as a creative professional offering a service, found this to be relatable. Not that I want you to feel any of this, but it would mean that I’m reading this situation well. Before jumping to the next train of thought, please share this with your friends and colleagues that you think might appreciate it and applaud it if you think there’s some value here for you. Feel free to give your feedback, and stay well. :)

Be happy!

(This series and illustrations were created for We Know You.)

Catch the next train (of thought):

b) “I’m on this for way too long to give up now”— SOON —