You are a Project Manager — Yes, You
Becoming a Master of Process
Let’s face it. As creatives, we love to give in to the stereotype that we’re terrible at managing resources. And I know, because I’ve done it too many times to count. “This is what it means to be creative” or “It’s someone else’s job to figure out the process,” or “I’m a producer and that’s what matters.”
Not to be the bearer of bad news, but I’m here to tell all you guilty creatives: you are a project manager — yes, you. 😱
…but take heart! Things do turn out well in the end.
It’s easy to get into a mindset that process belongs to someone else. But in the creative industry, regardless of role, you are the owner of your own process and work environment.
If you produce code, words, or designs, you likely have someone acting on your behalf as the “Master of Process.” At Whiteboard, we’ve grown to now have a team of four Project Leaders who maintain a comfy, organized, efficient climate for production.
With such a skilled project leadership team, it’s easy to get into a mindset that process belongs to someone else. That I should stay in my lane, head down, and just keep producing. But in the creative industry, regardless of role, you are the owner of your own process and work environment.
To give in to bad resource management — even for a day — does not do justice to your work or your professional development.
It’s up to you to take ownership of what you ship, when you ship, and how it gets there. To give in to bad resource management — even for a day — does not do justice to your work or your professional development. Whether you’re a freelancer, a startup junkie, or a seasoned agency-goer with ten project managers, it’s up to you to be your own Master of Process.
Aight creatives, let’s take a look at what it means to be a Master of Process.
A Master of Process:
Is responsible for time and resources.
A Master of Process keeps time and resources always front of mind, knowing production is only valuable when delivered within the timeframe and budget. For every dollar we go over or hour we work past the deadline, we’re losing credibility as professionals. A Master of Process plans well so the agreed-upon-work is feasible within the budget and proposed deadline. Conveniently enough, as the producer, you’ve already got the best understanding of how long it will take you to accomplish a task. See? You got this.
Knows when to hit send, and when to keep working.
As the producer (and Master of Process), you alone know when work is ready to ship, because you know the objectives and audience for the project. As you collaborate with others on team, you’ll be able to gather feedback and adjust accordingly, but ultimately, only you know when to hit send. Keep in mind, “excellence” may mean testing your minimum viable product before shipping again.
Has already mastered self care.
The woman I respect most on this earth (dear mumsy, of course) always said, “Take care of yourself, because no one else is going to do it.” And nothing rings more true when thinking over a stressful week or sideways process.
Your team needs you at 100% and to maintain this, you’ve got to look out for Number 1. Self care is real y’all, even at work.
No one else is going to monitor your productivity, mental state, or emotional health. Take regular vacations, get outside, create a healthy balance, and practice leadership development. You know, all the things people keep telling you to do. After all, most of what we produce is energy level and mental state. (Cheesy, but.. If you think it, you can do it.)
Alright, we’re halfway there. Now that we know what it means to be a Master of Process, let’s look at 3 ways to lean in:
1. After every production block, take notes on what you experienced.
(It’s most useful to think about production blocks in 2 to 4 hour increments —so think before and after lunch.) Did you stay locked in on a single task? Did you spend sideways energy or get distracted? Keeping a journal allows you to view your production cycle in hours, days, or weeks, so that you begin to notice patterns which need improvement.
2. Based on patterns you see, select your weapon of choice.
A Master of Process is strategic, and knows even the smallest shift in energy can make all the difference. Based on the patterns in your notes, choose the simple shift that will create the largest return. It could be to limit task switching, check emails after lunch instead of before, or start your day with a priority list. Try one adjustment at a time, and give each a few days to breath. (Patience, young Luke.)
3. Iterate, and iterate… and iterate some more.
As you seek clarity through patterns and small adjustments, stay flexible and positive. Once again, being a Master of Process is all about your mindset. Just as you’re willing to iterate on production work, give yourself the freedom to iterate on process. As we become more self-aware, the process is refined, and you guessed it.. we get to make more fun things.
Praise be, process and production are symbiotic after all. 🙏
Okay creatives, let’s create the process of our dreams. Get to steppin’.
