What do you do if your creative strategy clashes with a colleague's?

If your creative strategy clashes with a colleague's, prioritize open communication and collaboration. Discuss differing perspectives, identify common goals, and seek a compromise that integrates the strengths of both approaches. Focus on the shared objectives and be willing to adapt to find the most effective solution for the project.

Turn clash into collaboration! 🎨🤝 Discuss openly, find common ground, and blend your genius for a win-win 🌟💼. Keep it cool, keep it creative, and keep it collaborative! 💪

You won't get anywhere working with that colleague directly. In my experience, it's either something to do with your creative strategy (needs work) or their agenda (other issues with them that you cannot fix through creative strategy). Get your creative strategy reviewed by other colleagues at the same level and more senior colleagues. Get external validation. If you find your creative strategy is faulty, you have some work to do. If your creative strategy is on track, work with other colleagues on the same level, senior colleagues, and external validation to bolster support for your strategy, and offer an open door to the clashing colleague, but don't hang about trying to solve their issues. Move on.

It's essential to approach the situation with an open mind and a willingness to find common ground. Begin by discussing each approach openly, focusing on the strengths and potential outcomes of both strategies. Listen actively to understand your colleague's perspective and share your own rationale clearly and respectfully. It's often helpful to identify the shared goals and outcomes you both aim for and then explore how elements from each strategy can be integrated or adapted to serve those mutual objectives best. Collaboration and compromise are key, as combining the best aspects of both strategies can lead to a more innovative and effective solution than either of you might have developed alone.

When creative strategies clash, approach the situation with empathy, open-mindedness, and communication. Listen to your colleague's perspective, share your thoughts, and look for common goals. Collaborate to find a solution that integrates both strategies. Get feedback from others. Be open to adjusting your approach. Remember, the ultimate aim is success. If the conflict persists, consider involving a mediator or guidance from leaders. Conflicts are natural in creative environments and can lead to more vital collaboration and better outcomes.

One unique approach to navigate a clash in creative strategies with a colleague is to propose a collaborative brainstorming session. Rather than viewing the clash as a barrier, frame it as an opportunity to generate innovative solutions by combining different perspectives. During the session, encourage open dialogue, active listening, and mutual respect for each other's ideas. By fostering a collaborative environment, you can leverage the diversity of thought to find a creative strategy that integrates elements from both perspectives, resulting in a stronger and more comprehensive approach.

Be transparent with them, but also communicate the clash to line management. Being open also doesn't mean shouting about it. Be clear but also understand who is responsible for what. Get clear boundaries agreed with line management and move on.

I always say, "Disagree without being disagreeable". There will be disagreements, but make sure you disagree on the basis of the work, and not on the basis of the personality. Find the common ground. In most cases, the common ground is a common desire to elevate the work. Find this, and work from it, and you'll be able to work out the differences.

If you're creative strategy is sound, use the sessions to help them understand it, and let them feel that they have ownership and agency, without original authorship. It's your work after all. This isn't going to solve the clash so keep things moving forward.

You might also learn something from the experience that will make your creative strategy better, and help you work more closely with your clashing colleague.

Yes. Always bring something like this to the attention of line management if it is getting in the way of you doing your job. It can be done in a nice way, and helps everyone in the long run.

Don't assume that the right answer is always a compromise. If one person believes that the earth is round and another person believes that the earth is flat, the correct answer is not the compromise option that the earth is oval. If you are certain that you are right, use your powers of persuasion, while doing it civilly of course.