Here's how you can overcome challenges in remote work for creative strategy.

Since COVID, I've been running a multicultural creative agency, Buoyant, with a revolving team of about 20 team members remotely. I did keep my Washington, DC HQ offices, and while some of the team members will use the space, I may find myself in the office once a month max. It's just so much more convenient and efficient to be in my home office getting things done. As for our tech stack, we've primarily depended on Zoom, Google Workspace, Slack, Asana, Notion, and frame.io for synchronous and asynchronous communication between team members. With Slack, the Huddle option is getting a lot of usage as it allows just who's needed to quickly come together to address an issue or relay an opportunity without the formality of scheduling a Zoom.

Tools like Slack, Zoom, and Google Meet for communication, along with project management tools like Asana, Trello, or Monday.com to keep everyone on the same page.

Don't forget the visuals! Creating a shared space for collaborators to add visual inspiration and ideas can not only spark new conversations and new creative solutions, but can also better engage collaborators who think more visually than verbally. Online tools like Mural, Miro, and Venngage provide a collaborative visual space where words and pictures can work together to flesh out creative ideas in real time.

Maintain a rhythm to your work that includes regular check-ins and time for the more challenging tasks. Additionally, it is helpful to develop an ideal week based on your values that can help you maintain purpose and drive in your work.

1/ Prioritize Deep Work: Dedicate uninterrupted blocks of 2-3 hours for focused creative endeavors. These periods are crucial for generating high-quality ideas and strategies. 2/ Align Tasks with Energy Levels: Identify your peak creative hours and schedule demanding tasks accordingly. Utilize lower-energy periods for administrative duties or meetings. 3/ Implement Themed Days: Designate specific days for particular types of work. For example, Mondays could be reserved for brainstorming sessions, while Wednesdays could be focused on client presentations. This structured approach fosters rhythm and minimizes mental transitions.

Em minha experiência o tempo precisa ser um aliado, e n?o o inimigo. Parece estranho dizer isso, mas quem trabalha com criatividade sabe que n?o é possível trabalhar com o tempo cronológico, embora seja necessário. Há uma distin??o entre tempo para entrega de materiais e tempo da cria??o. Haverá sempre a necessidade de certa disciplina e ordem, estabelecimento de prioridades para que os resultados sejam satisfatórios. Mas a cria?a? em si está além do relógio. E essa precisa estar alinhada ao tempo interno de cada pessoa, para que consiga produzir com qualidade e, ao mesmo tempo, eficiência.

Schedule weekly team meetings to discuss ongoing projects, upcoming deadlines, and any roadblocks. Use these meetings not only for project tracking but also for brainstorming and creative discussions.

A conex?o de uma equipe de trabalho é estabelecida a partir de parametros alinhados com os objetivos do trabalho. E esses parametros n?o dizem respeito apenas a estratégias, metas e resultados. Isso é importante, mas há algo além da interatividade natural que uma equipe exige, e esse ponto fundamental é a aten??o. Há um interesse genuíno em ouvir o que sua equipe diz? Há uma escuta atenta entre todos? O foco da conex?o está na aten??o que se dedica a cada um de forma verdadeira e interessada. A aten??o promove a uni?o de uma equipe em torno do que realmente importa: as pessoas.

Regularly engage the team with creative challenges or fun activities that are not directly related to current projects. This can help in keeping the creative juices flowing and prevent burnout.

Implement flexible work hours where possible to accommodate different time zones. This flexibility allows team members to work when they are most productive.

Remote work can blur the lines between work and life. But here's the secret sauce for setting goals that stick: Focus on the "Why" before the "What." Instead of dry spreadsheets, have a team discussion: What impact do we want our creative strategy to have? How will it move the needle for our clients/users? Connecting goals to a bigger purpose keeps everyone motivated and laser-focused, even when miles apart.

Para quem trabalha com criatividade é importante compreender que sempre haverá a necessidade de sacrificar a superficialidade e alguma sensa??o de seguran?a. Para conseguir trazer à tona as inspira??es mais profundas e as vis?es mais amplas é sempre bom lembrar que n?o há estratégias rígidas que nos levem ao melhor de nossas cria??es. O caminho é permitir que o fluxo, a mudan?a e o inesperado fa?am parte do trabalho. Assim, abra?amos o desconhecido sem perder a no??o de quem realmente somos: seres criadores por natureza.