What are the most common gaps in Creative Strategy and how can you use critical thinking to identify them?

1 Gap 1: Lack of clarity

One of the most common gaps in creative strategy is the lack of clarity about the problem, the goal, the audience, or the solution. This can lead to confusion, misunderstanding, or misalignment among the stakeholders, as well as wasted time and resources. To avoid this gap, you need to use critical thinking to define and communicate the scope, purpose, and criteria of your creative strategy. You can use tools such as problem statements, SMART goals, personas, and value propositions to articulate and validate your assumptions and expectations.

2 Gap 2: Lack of relevance

Another common gap in creative strategy is the lack of relevance to the audience, the context, or the market. This can result in a creative strategy that is outdated, inappropriate, or ineffective. To avoid this gap, you need to use critical thinking to research and understand your audience, their needs, wants, pain points, and motivations. You also need to analyze the context and the market, such as the trends, competitors, opportunities, and threats. You can use tools such as surveys, interviews, observations, SWOT analysis, and PESTEL analysis to gather and evaluate relevant data and insights.

3 Gap 3: Lack of originality

Another common gap in creative strategy is the lack of originality or differentiation. This can lead to a creative strategy that is boring, predictable, or similar to others. To avoid this gap, you need to use critical thinking to generate and explore diverse and novel ideas that can solve the problem or achieve the goal in a unique and compelling way. You can use tools such as brainstorming, mind mapping, SCAMPER, and lateral thinking to stimulate and expand your creativity.

4 Gap 4: Lack of feasibility

Another common gap in creative strategy is the lack of feasibility or viability. This can lead to a creative strategy that is unrealistic, impractical, or unprofitable. To avoid this gap, you need to use critical thinking to test and validate your ideas and solutions against the constraints and requirements of the project. You also need to estimate and optimize the costs, benefits, risks, and resources of your creative strategy. You can use tools such as prototypes, experiments, feedback, and business models to measure and improve your feasibility.

5 Gap 5: Lack of execution

Another common gap in creative strategy is the lack of execution or delivery. This can lead to a creative strategy that is incomplete, inconsistent, or ineffective. To avoid this gap, you need to use critical thinking to plan and implement your creative strategy in a timely and quality manner. You also need to monitor and evaluate your results and outcomes, and make adjustments and improvements as needed. You can use tools such as project management, quality assurance, and performance indicators to ensure your execution.

By using critical thinking to identify and avoid these common gaps in creative strategy, you can increase your chances of creating and delivering solutions that are clear, relevant, original, feasible, and effective. You can also enhance your skills and reputation as a creative strategist who can solve problems and achieve goals in innovative and impactful ways.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?