What do you do if creativity is lacking in your PR agency?

1 Assess Honestly

Begin by conducting an honest assessment of your agency's creative health. Look at recent campaigns, brainstorming sessions, and client feedback. If you notice a pattern of recycled ideas or a drop in client satisfaction, it's a sign that your creative well may be running dry. Acknowledge the issue without placing blame, as finger-pointing can stifle recovery efforts. Instead, focus on understanding the root causes, whether it's a lack of inspiration, team burnout, or outdated processes.

2 Diversify Input

One way to ignite creativity is to diversify the sources of input. Encourage your team to seek inspiration from a broad range of fields outside the immediate scope of PR, such as art, science, or technology. This cross-pollination of ideas can lead to innovative approaches that set your campaigns apart. Additionally, consider inviting guest speakers, attending workshops, or collaborating with experts from different industries to inject fresh perspectives into your brainstorming sessions.

3 Embrace Failure

It's essential to create an environment where taking risks and potential failure are not just tolerated but encouraged. Fear of failure can be a significant creativity killer in PR agencies. When your team feels safe to experiment and fail, they're more likely to push boundaries and come up with groundbreaking ideas. Celebrate creative attempts, even when they don't pan out, and use them as learning experiences to fuel future innovation.

4 Update Skills

Staying on top of the latest industry trends and updating skills can also rejuvenate a team's creativity. Encouraging continuous learning and professional development can provide your team with new tools and methods to approach PR challenges creatively. This could mean investing in training for the latest social media algorithms, understanding new content formats, or even learning about behavioral psychology to better tailor campaigns.

5 Change Scenery

Sometimes a change of scenery can work wonders for a stagnant creative process. If possible, organize off-site meetings or retreats to break the monotony of the office environment. A new setting can inspire new ideas and give your team the mental space they need to think outside the box. Even small changes, like rearranging the office or setting up brainstorming sessions in a park, can provide a fresh perspective.

6 Refresh Routine

Lastly, consider shaking up the daily routine to combat creative fatigue. This could involve implementing flexible work hours, introducing 'creative days' with no meetings or emails, or setting aside time for individual creative projects related to PR. A refreshed routine can prevent burnout and keep your team's minds sharp, ready to tackle client needs with renewed vigor and originality.

7 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?