WRITTEN BY: KELLY HAUGE
Let’s talk about something I’ve seen a lot of marketing teams struggle with: those projects that just seem to drag on forever, or get stuck in endless revision loops. It’s not always about the creative itself, is it? More often than not, the slowdown happens way before anyone even starts designing or writing. And simple workflows are the answer.
You know those moments where you’re handed a project and you’re thinking, “Wait, what are we even trying to achieve here?” or “Where’s the information I need?” That’s where the real slowdowns happen. It’s frustrating for everyone, especially for the creative folks who just want to get to the good stuff.
How do you keep things moving? Here are a few things I’ve seen make a real difference in creating simple workflows:
1. Get those briefs nailed down. A solid brief isn’t just a formality-it’s a roadmap. One team I worked with cut their review loops in half just by making sure every brief answered three key questions:
- What’s the goal? (Not just “brand awareness,” but a real, specific outcome.)
- Who are we talking to? (Demographics are fine, but what actually motivates them?)
- What’s non-negotiable? (If something has to be in the final deliverable, call it out upfront.)
When teams stop chasing down missing details, everything moves faster. Simple as that.
2. Ditch the ‘Big Reveal’ – Check In More Often. People hear “agile” and assume it’s some rigid tech framework, but really, it’s just about breaking work into smaller pieces and checking in along the way. No more working in a vacuum, only to find out at the last minute that things are way off track.
Think of it like this: Instead of sending one polished deliverable for review, set up quick checkpoints. A rough draft, a content outline, a wireframe- whatever makes sense. These check-ins catch misalignment early and keep things moving.
3. Get the Right People in the Room (Early!). Too many projects start with one team making decisions in a silo-only to have them reversed later by someone who wasn’t consulted. The fix is simple: Get planning, creative, and operations aligned before work begins. A 20-minute kickoff leveraging a “pre-mortem” approach where everyone asks, What could trip us up later? can save weeks of back-and-forth. I’ve seen teams shave days (or even weeks) off timelines just by having a quick call upfront instead of sorting out miscommunications over slack later.
Where to Start?
You don’t have to overhaul your entire process overnight. Just pick one project and take a closer look:
- Where do things slow down?
- Where do people get confused or frustrated?
Is it a briefing issue? A lack of check-ins? A misalignment between teams? Make one small change aimed at creating a simple workflows and see what happens.
You might be surprised at how much smoother things run.
I’d love to hear what’s worked (or hasn’t) for you- let’s talk.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT: