Here's how you can assess your own deadline-meeting performance as a creative strategist.

For any project to be successful, it is crucial that, as a Project Manager that you outline your own deadlines, which can be prior to the actual deadlines given to the client. I am always inclined to follow SWOT analysis in any given project, regardless of its magnitude. By following this strategy, you can carve out your project in the best possible way. Client feedback after scheduled meetings is vital, as this can help you steer your project in the right direction and also you can foresee any pitfalls coming in your path. I am an advocate for getting client's agreement after each deliverable, which also determines whether your project is on the right track and, in turn, avoids any misunderstanding between both parties.

Creative strategists are the bridge between imagination and execution. They possess the unique ability to craft compelling narratives that resonate with audiences, while also having the foresight to anticipate market trends and consumer needs. Their blend of creativity and strategic thinking is essential in transforming innovative ideas into successful campaigns. In essence, they are the architects of inspiration in the world of marketing and branding.

-Maintain a log of your work hours to identify patterns and areas of improvement. -Compare estimated time versus actual time taken to complete tasks.

Meeting deadlines is crucial for maintaining credibility and efficiency as a creative strategist. Regularly assessing your performance in this area can help you identify strengths, address weaknesses, and improve your overall workflow. Maintain a detailed record of all project deadlines using tools like calendars, project management software, or spreadsheets. Differentiate between various types of projects (e.g., client projects, internal tasks, collaborative efforts) to see if certain types are more challenging to complete on time. Consistently update your progress on each task or project. Tools like Trello, Asana, or Monday.com can help you track progress and stay organised. Set intermediate milestones and checkpoints for larger projects.

After I have taken a brief, I nearly always have a flash of inspiration that has never let me down. From that point I work backwards and create mini stages that guide me step by step to the final concept and presentation.

SMART goal-setting is an undervalued framework that can immensely help creative strategists to plan and develop their marketing campaigns. Here is how I approach this process: 1. Start by defining all the channels you want to be visible on 2. List out the specific activities / ideas for each 3. Look up benchmarks and industry-standard statistics to get a sense of where you stand in terms of your engagement. 4. Set measurable targets based on these benchmarks and your existing analytics. (Be ambitious, but realistic) 5. Define clear timelines for each task by clearly analysis how much time each activity takes. Break up the task into smaller steps and identify the cumulative time needed to complete all before setting your deadline.

-Establish clear, specific, and achievable deadlines for each task. -Break larger projects into smaller, manageable milestones with their own deadlines.

Weird as it sounds, and remembering I am in the creative business, if I find myself stuck and frustrated I will review the design, or those I have delegated to and change it. If I come back to the same route, just doing this stops that awful and unproductive head banging situation and clears the path, the old, or new.

Utilize "Algorithmic Deadline Setting": Concept: Explore tools that generate deadline estimates based on historical data and project complexity. These can help you set more accurate deadlines upfront. This can seriously reduce the risk of underestimating project time requirements.

You should focus on identifying the value of each exercise vs. how much time you spend - how much good stuff do you get from each activity, how can you make this activity more efficient, what activities tend to provide the least amount of value, etc?

-Identify common obstacles that caused delays and how they were addressed. -Note any recurring issues that need proactive management in future projects.

It can be easy to get stuck – either blocked (no idea) or hooked on one idea – identifying when you are and developing strategies to get unstuck, is crucial to freeing up your time and creating a more efficient process in future.

It’s all about finding things that you’re too close to see. Seeking feedback is a crucial part of evaluating how well you're meeting deadlines in creative strategy. It gives you an external perspective on your work habits and time management skills. When you ask for feedback, you might learn about blind spots you didn't know existed—maybe you take too long on brainstorming or get bogged down in perfectionism. By hearing from others, you can adjust your approach, streamline your processes, and ultimately become more efficient. Plus, it’s always helpful to boost your creativity, as you get fresh ideas and insights that help you think outside the box.

No project exists in isolation. I have called clients with the sentiment that you can have it on time or two days later and better. Not quite those words and I am totally honest that either will give them a result that will succeed. Co-creation is important.

Your client’s perception of value should be the main driver in how you structure your process and what you should concentrate on.

This is essentially why it’s important to schedule an internal call or meeting before the external client call. Gaining feedback from internal stakeholders offers several unseen perspectives that may help sharpening the strategy or sometimes even the presentation flow. A collaborative setup is always a winner.

We have everyday deadlines (read deliverables) for our B2C and B2B customers. Sometimes, it becomes pretty difficult to manage. However, for the past two years, we have been maintaining a routine of online meetings each morning (except Sundays), where we discuss about: 1. Previous day’s work completion status 2. Pending tasks 3. Challenges or any issues faced 4. To-do-list for that particular day Trust me doing this has really worked for all team members since everybody is aware of the work status and pending tasks. Any issues from the previous day is discussed and resolved in the meeting itself so that it does not hamper that particular day’s work. This practice has empowered all members to meet their deadlines smoothly.

We can get so caught up in deliverables that it is imperative to reflect and especially celebrate the wins. We’ve had all sorts of wacky ways to commemorate project milestones over the years including cowbells, happy dances and Scotch.

When I first started out as a freelance copywriter my procrastination habits became glaringly obvious! Left to my own devices, I would start a project the day before it was due—as well as take on too much at once. Now, finally, years later(I am a slow learner) as a brand and creative strategist I set deadlines for myself incrementally, breaking down each phase of the timeline into smaller steps and blocking it out on my calendar. This has been so enriching! I have time to explore ideas and strategies and I don't overbook myself (because it's all in the calendar!); setting myself up for a stress-free process. My clients are demonstrably appreciative for all the extra thought put in and insights that come out.

Experiment with the Pomodoro Technique: This technique involves working in focused 25-minute intervals with short breaks in between. This can improve concentration and prevent burnout, which can lead to missed deadlines. Better to be in flow than create scraps that isn't effective for you or your team.

When my daughter began attending med school, she would call and complain about the mounting pressure of homework and upcoming exams. We sat down and walked through her daily schedule and routine and identified ways to "tuck in" specific times of review, study—and most importantly—self care. After implementing the new process for a month "it was like a Miracle" (Her words). Looking at your use of time beyond your deadlines can help you live a more "prepared" life making everything a lot easier.

Make a Deadline Log Maintain a simple log where you record deadlines, actual completion dates, and reasons for any delays. This data helps you identify patterns and areas for improvement. It's all in the data! (kidding not kidding)

Managing expectations - including your own! - is key to delivering the project on time. The tricky thing is that you need to account for what you do not know: unforeseen delays, absences, late responses, and force majeure. One trick is to assess work and add 30% (if at all possible). Better to delight the client with early delivery than sending an email trying to push the deadline. Also, it is important to respect your own priorities. Things happen and we all had an emergency all-hand-on-deck situation. But in most cases, somebody else's panic does not have to be yours. Quality matters. What is it that they say? More haste less speed.