Here's how you can cultivate resilience when facing criticism from clients in brand strategy.

Over the past 20 years, I have had fair share of criticisms from clients and agency team members - the only smart way to deal with it is treating them as opportunities to grow, improve, and connect better with those who are sharing feedback or criticism. If someone is taking time out to criticize or share critical feedback with you, know that they have genuine interest in you or your solutions. If not, no one wants to waste their time and energy on/with someone whom they have no respect for.

Embrace criticism as constructive feedback in Brand Strategy. Listen attentively, ask questions, and understand clients' perspectives to improve strategies effectively. This approach not only enhances brand strategies but also strengthens client relationships by demonstrating commitment to meeting expectations.

No brand strategy is going to take off without its fair share of hiccups. It's naive to expect success in your first attempt. A strategy is built on theory based on certain assumptions. It's rare for all of it to fall into place. So never wait for a 100% perfect strategy. Always go with 70% and improvise on the fly. Brand success like everything else in life is about a long, hard grind. Be prepared for some heavy lifting and body blows along the way. It'll keep your ego in check for sure.

Clients will almost always have feedback, especially on projects as significant as rebrands or brand launches. But if the criticism is loud or unexpected, you've already failed at the most important task - taking the client on the journey with you. Not just your direct stakeholder, but the other people in the business that your client needs to win over. Always run stakeholder interviews with as many stakeholders as possible. Ask for feedback at regular cadences. Don't try and be a magician with a big reveal moment.

Inability to cope with bruising criticism from clients in respect to branding strategy requires continued learning. 1. Listen actively: respect your clients opinions without arguing about it. 2. Reflect on feedback: Introduce recommendations that can be made from the criticism made. 3. Develop a growth mindset: Do not view criticism as negativity but rather as a way in which you can be able to improve yourself. Self-development is a virtue which assists in the achievement of organizational stability and converts anger into positive change.

Embracing resilience is key when adjusting your brand strategy in response to client criticism. Rather than making changes merely to appease, use feedback as a catalyst for meaningful evolution. Align adjustments with your brand's core purpose and vision, ensuring they contribute to long-term success. Resilience allows your brand to adapt and grow stronger in the face of adversity. It's about pivoting strategically - maintaining your fundamental identity while evolving how you solve problems in a changing environment. This approach keeps you relevant and competitive. By viewing criticism as an opportunity for adaptation, you position your brand as an industry leader. This enables you to shape your brand to fit your strengths.

How do you develop resilience to criticism in marketing? Same answer as to how to get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice. Before the client presentation occurs, be your own critic and question everything. Then ask trusted colleagues to do the same. "Please", tell them, "pick it to the bone." The criticism that internal process yields does 3 things. One; it thickens your skin (important because hot house flowers don't last long in adverting). Two; it affords you a chance to best answer possible criticism ("I thought about that, and here's why I advise this..."). Third; it makes the final product better and better strategy means better results and the gold mine of client response, "I wouldn't change a thing."