Is It Time For A Harsh Critique? • Working With Creators – Part One In A Series

I think we’ve all been here.  You had an idea that felt like it came from the heavens.  A stroke of genius that heretofore has never been experienced by man, woman or child. So you took it to your team of Creators and what came back… was… not… Well let’s just says it wasn’t what you hoped for.

What do you do now?

It doesn’t matter if you’re working with a designer, writer, film-maker or brand expert. Creators are pretty much cut from the same cloth. So here are a few thoughts to keep in mind when you deliver the hard news.

 It’s a Balancing Act

It takes a whole person to create well. Mind, body and spirit. If you can mentally check out and do your next meeting while on your phone or run important numbers for your boss right after you’ve had a fight with a loved one – then count yourself lucky. Most Creators can’t. They walk a fine line of balance to create at their best.
Be Gentle

A harsh critique needs to happen no more than once a quarter if want to keep a great Creator on your team or even more important - mentally and emotionally engaged. These folks have a complicated make up of deep sensitivity, hyper awareness and unique neurology – which adds up to a certain level of delicacy.

And now I can hear you hard core, super strong Creators roaring with disapproval at these thoughts and you would have a point. If you’re going to survive in the world of business, you have to grow a thick skin as quickly as possible.

A Spoon Full of Sugar

Make sure you legitimately commend your Creators for solid work when it happens. Like all good relationships, put a deposit in the bank every once in a while. You don’t need to go overboard. It’s not like you need to put more deposits in than withdrawals. The biggest deposit for most Creators is getting paid. But a little gift or public acknowledgement does go a long way. A Creator who feels respected and appreciated can handle honest, gentle criticism.

Breathe

I have dismissed really good work from my Creators because it didn’t match what I had in my head or maybe I just needed to take a breath and process what came back before tweaking it.  Push back when you need to and strive for the best, but also have the courage to recognize that sometimes your great idea was just that late night burrito jacking with your brain.

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David Thomason shines a bright light on Creators with a simple process – Position, Package, Promote. www.davidtmarketingdesign.com