You're leading a brand strategy team. How do you keep them motivated and productive?

The incentives are not only financial But a good work environment is the biggest motivator. Distribution of tasks and responsibilities. Set Clear Goals and Expectations Clearly communicate the team's objectives, ensuring everyone understands their role in achieving these goals. This clarity fosters motivation and aligns efforts toward common objectives.

Clear Vision and Goals: Communicate a clear vision and set achievable goals for the team. Ensure that everyone understands the purpose of their work and how it contributes to the overall objectives of the organization. Empowerment and Autonomy: Provide team members with the autonomy to make decisions and take ownership of their work. Empower them to experiment, innovate, and explore new ideas without fear of failure. Recognition and Rewards: Recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions of team members regularly. Whether it's through verbal praise, bonuses, or other incentives, acknowledging their hard work and accomplishments can boost morale and motivation.

Understanding deliverables and roles is crucial of course, but, it isn't just the "what needs to be done", it is as much about "how you go about doing it". So, ensuring there is clarity of the purpose and vision for both the client and the team is essential. That way, with a framework of regular communication, activity will be directed to deliver the right solution in a timer frame that meets the brief.

Brand strategists thrive on purpose and progress. To ignite their fire, focus on clear goals, empowered ownership, and collaborative learning. Celebrate wins, embrace fresh thinking, and prioritize well-being. Watch your team translate strategy into unstoppable growth.

Setting expectations should happen at the very beginning of any job, but especially when working with a brand. Goals need to be set within your team for deliverables, milestones, timelines, etc. But it also needs to be set on creative goals - what are we trying to do? Why are we doing it? Who are we doing it for? Why does any of this matter? Goals and expectations for the client will set the standard for your project throughout the process. What you tell them in the beginning, you need to be prepared to stick to this to the end unless an agreed upon change is made. Goals, expectations, and open communication ensures not only accountability and trust but a smooth project process by keeping everyone on the same page.

"Culture eats strategy for breakfast." Which in no way means you don't need a strategy, you just need to ensure the "how" is clearly considered first/as well. In my opinion empowering your team and creating a positive environment that supports experimentation and innovation, without losing site of the goal, is the biggest priority to help ensure a successful programme.

The leader sets the pace for the team. Invest into your team. Pay them well, support them with actually useful resources, listen to their input, and allow them to be creative. This is the minimum for caring for you team, and every team will have different needs. Along with this, curate your team. From culture to skill to strategic brains, every person on the team has something different to offer. Remember why you brought them on and nurture it. Combining effective care for your team with careful cultivation, you can have a powerhouse on your hands.

In my experience as a leader of a marketing team, I keep my team motivated and productive by fostering an environment that encourages experimentation and idea-sharing. By celebrating achievements, both personal and professional, and offering constructive feedback where required, I inspire my team to push boundaries. This approach cultivates a sense of ownership and pride in their individual contributions to the team, driving motivation and overall productivity.

Encouraging creativity involves showcasing the talents of your creative team and acknowledging their skills. It's also vital to ensure that creative individuals aren't stuck working on repetitive projects. Embracing variety is essential for nurturing and sustaining their imaginative spark.

An essential aspect of leading a motivated brand strategy team is fostering creativity and innovation. Create a supportive environment where team members feel safe to share ideas, opinions, and insights. Provide the necessary tools, resources, and training to help them develop their skills and expertise. Encourage them to think outside the box, experiment with new approaches, and learn from failures. By empowering your team to be creative and innovative, you can help them grow professionally, deliver unique value to clients, and find greater enjoyment in their work.

A pat on the back and "good job" is not enough. Your team has to be compensated for their work fairly in order to stay in the role, thrive in their position, and give you their all. Understanding certain teams have certain budgets, keep it transparent. Can't afford a huge bonus? Be honest with them about where the money is going and what you are doing to improve it for next year. Compensate them with what you can. Encourage an open conversation on what they need in order to thrive. Keeping money a hush hush topic leads to sudden turnover and employers asking "why" despite the leaving parties wondering why they weren't appreciated until they were gone. Talk. About. Money.

Giving employees positive feedback is good, but providing adequate pay raises when deserved and opportunities for employees to learn new skills and advance in their careers is vital to maintaining good talent.

You can only promote an environment of collaboration and communication if you have built a culture of trust. Opportunity for open conversation, ideas sharing and a clear team goal (that trumps individual targets). I have always built a framework for regular discussion, with opportunity to empower individuals and teams to spend time completing specific complementary tasks that are then brought back to the group for constructive and positive review.

To keep the brand strategy team motivated and productive, I'd foster a culture of open communication, provide opportunities for skill development, recognize and celebrate achievements, set clear goals, offer autonomy in decision-making, encourage collaboration, and regularly check in to address any concerns or roadblocks. Creating a positive work environment where team members feel valued and supported is crucial for maintaining motivation and productivity.

Think about WHO you need on your team. What matters is choosing the right people. It's not just about marketing. Choose people who have the customer's voice and experience. A diverse cross-section of views is more valuable than too many folk who are too close to see things from a new perspective.

To keep your brand strategy team motivated and productive, make space for regular exploration, creativity, and play. Brand strategy is an ever-evolving space. Read and debate the latest strategy perspectives. Learn new frameworks and develop your own. Strategically dissect brands you love, and analyze emerging brands that intrigue you (in good ways and bad). Exploration and play will make your team stronger and more astute, with a wider knowledge base to draw from. They’ll also build teamwork skills and trust. And they’ll have fun doing it!