Any advice on those of us trying to push into a strategy director role? Currently a senior strategist with plenty of experience, but every time I try and step into a director role (on smaller accounts/when the director level is short staffed) my anxiety hits 100 and impacts my performance. It’s starting to get to me, and I wonder if anyone has been in this position before... thanks in advance!

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What parts of the director level are causing this?

Such as:
Team management and feedback
Delegation of tasks
Creative review / feedback
Time management
Managing up
Deck development
Pitch process
Client guidance and management

It’d be good to understand the elements that are causing anxiety in order share advice.

Majority of the time the next step to a director level is purely being comfortable with your own decisions but conscious of others, overseeing the process and others and finally managing expectations.

A senior role really is using your experience/knowledge to guide/nurture/offer advice, ensure the process is streamlined and aligning others and the project/task at hand.

Let us know which part and we can help you out.

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It comes down to buckling when there’s a disagreement. I immediately assume the other more senior team member (account, creative director, client) is right when we head into a debate. I lose my nerve & start questioning myself vs standing my ground. And I’m aware that good creative needs productive debate so by getting too anxious to effectively participate I ultimately do the team a disservice. No one else has ever mentioned or picked up on this. But I know its getting in the way.

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OP, how much experience do you have? I’m in a similar sitch so just curious!

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