It’s no secret that a creative team can help take your business to the next level. After all, creativity is at the heart of any successful company – from the initial brainstorming stages to bringing new products or services to market. So how do you go about building and managing a winning creative team? Here are some tips.
Make The Most Out Of Online Resources
The internet is a treasure trove of resources for creative professionals. Take advantage of online tools, which offer a marketplace for buying and selling creative assets and a directory of creatives to connect with.
Blog sites and sites where you can network with professionals, and especially podcasts online, as seen from the CreativeOperations community are all valuable sources of information for leading creative teams. Social media is another great way to find and connect with creative talent. Use sites like LinkedIn and Twitter to search for creatives in your industry, and follow hashtags related to your field (such as #design or # branding).
Once you’ve found some talented individuals, don’t be afraid to reach out and connect with them. In addition to connecting with creatives online, also consider using online collaboration tools to help manage your team.
Collaboration Tools
Assemble is an online collaboration tool that helps creative teams manage projects from start to finish. With Assemble, you can create and assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress – all in one place. Apart from Assemble, there are numerous other tools to consider, such as:
- Slack is another great tool for managing team communication. Slack allows you to create channels for different topics or projects, and you can also direct message, other users. This makes it easy to keep everyone on the same page (literally).
- Google Drive is a must-have for any creative team. With Google Drive, you can store files, share documents, and even work on them together in real-time.
- Basecamp is another project management tool that’s great for creative teams. With Basecamp, you can create to-do lists, set deadlines, and track progress. Basecamp also offers a handy feature called “Campfire,” which allows team members to chat in real-time.
- Freed camp is a free project management tool that has many of the same features as Basecamp.
- Trello is a visual way to manage projects. With Trello, you can create boards for different projects, and then add cards for tasks or ideas. You can also assign team members to specific cards, and add due dates or attachments.
These are just a few of the many online collaboration tools available – so take some time to explore what’s out there, and find the ones that work best for your team.
Create A Company Culture Of Creativity
If you want to build a successful creative team, it’s important to create a company culture of creativity. Encourage your team members to think outside the box, and reward them for their innovative ideas. One way to do this is to hold regular brainstorming sessions, where everyone is encouraged to share their ideas.
You can also encourage creativity by giving employees “free days,” where they can work on personal projects or explore new ideas. Finally, make sure you provide adequate resources and support for your team – after all, creativity doesn’t happen in a vacuum. By investing in your team, you’re more likely to see a return in the form of innovative new ideas and products.
Offer Ongoing Training And Development
To maintain a high level of creativity, it’s important to offer ongoing training and development for your team. This could include anything from sending employees to conferences or workshops, to providing in-house training on new software or techniques.
By investing in your team’s education, you’re showing them that you value their skills and want them to continue to grow. In addition, ongoing training and development can help prevent burnout, which is all too common in the creative industry.
Invest In Technological Advancements
In today’s ever-changing world, it’s important to keep up with the latest technological advancements – and that includes investing in new software and hardware for your team. This doesn’t mean you need to break the bank – but it’s important to at least stay aware of what’s available, and consider investing in tools that could help your team be more productive.
For example, if you’re on a graphic design team, you may want to consider investing in a new computer with a high-resolution monitor. Or, if you’re a video editing team, you may want to consider investing in new software that can help speed up the editing process. By staying up-to-date on the latest technology, you can help ensure that your team is always able to produce high-quality work.
Ensure Everyone Is On The Same Page
When it comes to managing a creative team, communication is key. Make sure everyone is on the same page by holding regular meetings and keeping an open line of communication. It’s also important to give clear instructions when assigning tasks and to provide feedback throughout the process.
By ensuring that everyone is on the same page, you can avoid misunderstandings and potential conflict. For example, if a team member is unsure about a task, they can ask for clarification instead of making assumptions.
Encourage And Reward Creativity
As we mentioned before, it’s important to create a company culture of creativity. One way to do this is to encourage and reward creativity. When team members come up with new ideas, be sure to give them credit – and if their ideas are implemented, make sure they’re properly compensated.
This will not only show your appreciation for their creativity, but it will also incentivize them to continue coming up with new and innovative ideas. For example, you could give bonuses for ideas that are implemented or offer rewards for employees who come up with the most creative solutions to problems.
Building a successful creative team is no easy task. However, by following these tips, you can set your team up for success. Remember to communicate regularly, provide adequate resources and support, and encourage and reward creativity. By doing so, you’ll create a company culture of creativity that will help your team thrive.
