The sprint hit a snag, the scope isn’t clear on either side, and your project team:
- Is procrastinating
- Isn’t hitting goals or strategy
- Is afraid of the client or their own expectations
To combat this, bring in super-human Brad Weaver (of NineLabs) to get us to that elusive “done” moment.
Tell me something – if your Dad was late to lunch with you – how annoying would that be? You’d feel pretty crappy, unless of course he’s always the ‘late guy,’ in which case it’d bug you but not really ruin how you feel.
Key word: annoying.
And what if your Dad showed up on time – how incredible would that be? How mind-blowing would that be? Oh my goodness this miraculous human arrived on time! Cool, but not really awesome.
Key word: average.
Between the two totally plausible circumstances, what do you remember? The thing that was average (the time your phone didn’t crack), or the thing that bugged you (that one time your phone fell off the table at the restaurant, hit a corner in just the right way, and shattered).
…Being let down is a much bigger issue. Researchers at the University of San Diego found that “exceeding expectations is not symmetrical with disappointment.” So going above and beyond doesn’t merit the same response as being let down.
Major lesson here: Don’t be late. It’s OK if it’s not perfect, but it’s not OK if it’s LATE.
When questioning whether or not you’ll be ready for that presentation, for that QA cycle, for the RFP…It’s not in your best interest to miss a deadline, in order for it to be perfect. (Besides the fact that no client will ever perceive the creative with the same eye as the always-hard-on-herself designer.)
Get it there and deliver. Don’t hang on perfect.
A few other key take-aways from the presentation, in completely random non-sensical order, so the blog post goes up on time but imperfect:
- Understand and respect the difference between revisions for solutions and revisions for preference. Help the client focus on solutions, not preference. You are the taste-maker.
- There’s no scientific proof that intense motivation leads to intense success. You don’t have to be motivated to hit deadlines and create great work. You just have to work.
- Much of a person’s procrastination is often tied up in fear of screwing it up. If you can free people, you will be leaner.
- You can show an early version or a have a big splash reveal. You can’t have both.
- When projects are unattainable, staff will work overtime or quit. All other pathways lead to one of those options.
- Take the time to reflect and be satisfied with your hard work.
Super major thank you’s to Brad for presenting the best webinar I’ve ever taken.
Shout out to Invision for bringing it to all of us!
