Grrreeeeaaaaat. While I love teamwork situations and feel that the best ideas are typically derived from group discussions, working with a team at Miami Ad School is a little bit more tricky than I had originally anticipated. In true agency fashion, when a client has a project to be worked on a team sets up a meeting. Generally, an account person sends out a meeting request, everyone yawns and muffles some sort of complaint about there being yet ANOTHER meeting they have to go to, but they know they are expected to show up and have some sort of intelligent ideas as to why they are there.
Keep in mind…. agency employees working on a client project are getting PAID to attend team meetings, brainstorm ideas and come up with the best solution possible. Although at times it can be overwhelming and inspiration may be difficult to find, the underlying motivation to stay employed is always present.
At MAS, we aren’t receiving monetary compensation for our work. In fact, it’s just the opposite – we are paying someone else for these experiences. “You’ll get out of this what you put into it” has never been a truer statement. For me, self-motivation and the need to not just finish a job, but do over-deliver, are two things that I strive for in most situations. This is especially true for the Boot Camp because I know that after 12 weeks, I’ll be heading back to some fairly achievable, but also very high expectations.
A week ago, we were assigned teams that we will be working with during the first half of the quarter. After working with them on our first project, I can tell where we will excel and where we may be lacking in our effort to complete upcoming assignments. While it’s easy to say, “That person will never do their work on time, but I have mine done, so I’m not going to worry about it!” at the end of the day, it’s the team as a whole that will be responsible for getting the job done. We need to be a well oiled machine to achieve success.
Our art director and copywriter have 2 years to finish their Miami Ad School experience. The Account Planners have 12 very short, condensed weeks to achieve what should be 12 or 24 months worth of learning. This creates a bit of a challenge for the planners because we have to convince our creative team (who have a heavy class load, part-time jobs and the desire to maintain a social life) that the projects we will briefing them on are going to HAVE to be a high priority. I think as AP boot campers, (although there was the initial moaning and groaning upon the realization that our free time during this program was going to be when we were either in bed, in the shower or on the toilet) we’ve come to peace with the fact that group meetings, planner briefings and the time we spend in class are going to be our version of a social life in South Beach.
So how does one manage to motivate, inspire and challenge a creative team that
- Has never worked with a planner before?
- Feels overwhelmed by all the other stuff they have to do, let alone your group’s projects?
- Doesn’t have a consistent schedule for team meetings?
- Thinks “just getting it done for now” is sufficient?
- Needs to sleep in past 11am, go out at night and hit the beach during the day?
I’m not sure yet, but I’m working diligently on discovering the secret formula made from a balance of time management, compelling story telling and contagious excitement. Account Planners are the pace car for interest and excitement on a project. While I don’t plan to be obnoxious, I do intend on using some of my new planner tools to inadvertently drop hints, implant insights and hold mini-meetings without the creatives ever knowing they were just working on my project.
How devilishly clever of me… Mu Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Hours put in this week, as of Wednesday – 43
Number of Group Meetings – 4 so far, 3 more scheduled
