Agency leaders: how are you handling the stress of overworked and depressed teams that are also being overextended for not only existing needy clients but onslaught of new biz wheel spinning because agencies are desperate for revenue? Hard to inspire those who are already overworked and on leaner staff plans.

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Just a few tactics in no particular order:

Clear guidance. They know what they should be doing. Ambiguity wastes time and causes anxiety. Obviously no one wants to be told what to do all the time, so I give them tons of autonomy where they're experienced, but for the new/weird/urgent/etc stuff I take a clear lead.

Realistic timelines (with buffer) and priorities. Majority of our work, we work with the client to set timelines, and we discuss what's already in queue and prioritize as needed. If all they ever hear is yes, this can be a bit of a hurdle, but these are real people on the other end, they actually get that you can't do everything at once. I promise. And I add buffer time to everything, anywhere from 50% to 3X. If we're down a person or particularly busy I have the accounts team add in even more buffer. In the few cases it's urgent or the client pushes back, there's always a way to move things around and make it happen because we've buffered everywhere we can.

Automation. We automate anything we can. We're also constantly refining processes.

Push back. I'll push back for my guys, and they know it. I don't do rushed work, incomplete work, or late work, but I'll sure as shit break it into phases and push back that deadline across a month if that's what's needed. We do good work for our clients, and they respect our experience, even if it means we have to have a conversation about how this will take longer, be more expensive, whatever.

Leave some stuff behind. It can't all get done, that's fine, you can always circle back to it later.

Keep cool. nothing will freak them out like seeing you freaked out.

Look out for them. This job isn't hard, but feeling helpless, abused, etc. will absolutely break people. Look out for them emotionally. They should feel cared for, proud, growth, etc. Connect with em, have some drinks, help them with advice, career growth, etc.

Just a few off the top of my head. Enjoy!

likehelpfulupliftingsmart

Thanks!!

Pay them more!

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