I’d forgive you for not knowing that I work for a creative agency.  I do, we specialise in video production, and we’re in the final throes of finishing up our biggest piece of work for this particular client yet.  Said client is comprised of some lovely guys and gals, the work they do is great, and we absolutely hope to continue to work for them but, unfortunately, this last piece of work has been hamstrung at intervals by massive miscommunication between us.

Without going into details, the whole episode has put a spin on a lesson most people already know and hold dear, that is, honesty, transparency and respect is always the best policy.  What I’ve taken from this job however is the absolute importance of not being afraid to step up at an early stage and take the lead.  Just because you’re a supplier doesn’t mean, although by default it often does, that you can’t take the lead on something.

So sieze the early days.  Demand a deadline for your work, demand regular feedback meetings if you can, and like a mirror, always reflect back your client’s words, choices, briefs, so that you’re sure they know what they’re saying as much as you do.  Trust me, it’s not always the case.