Feeling inadequate as an ACD. Not CD-level so still learning. But also not in the weeds 24/7with the seniors. Stuck in this weird middle space. Anyone? How do you all feel about those in the role?

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I feel your pain. When I was an ACD I felt the exact same way. I felt like a master of nothing, stuck in creative purgatory. You really have no more control than your senior creatives. Unless your CD steps out of the way empowers you to really lead and assert your direction.

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I've just been made ACD this past year and so far the difference is unnoticeable from a senior, apart from my paycheck. I think there's a pitch coming up that I get to help lead, which will be cool. I'm not even sure I wanna be a CD. I just want the money.

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Ask the superiors what things you should work on to improve your skills and put you in a better place for a promotion

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^ says the CD

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Take control every chance you get. Make your boss’s life easier. That’s really all any of our jobs are. Making it easier for the person above us. Make them look good, you look good. Horrible reality but that’s how you move up.

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I’m at a place where the CDs work different accounts than the ACDs, thus mostly giving us autonomy and full creative control of nearly everything on our accounts. It’s great, and our CDs are there for the guidance and support we need to succeed. It’s required me to learn how to operate as a creative director very quickly and am confident that when the title comes I’ll be adequately prepared to take it.

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Do the job you want to have. It's the best way to learn. Start stepping up like a CD and let your boss pull you back.

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Not sure what size agency you work at but...One thing I am learning during my first year as ACD at a small shop is the power to get things made. Here, the difference between a senior creative and an acd is by how proactive you are in getting shit done. If you want something produced you can make it happen. You just need to stay on top of it. Learn to sell and build decks that sell and befriend your account directors, senior strategists and EPs. If you don’t like a vendor, you can fire them if they aren’t delivering what you asked for. Don’t wait for someone to tell you what to do or how to do things. DIY man

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Some shops have eliminated the CD role so ACD is highest (see “cheapest”) level beneath GCD. The issue I have with ACD is that it’s difficult to develop leadership skills if you are also the writing or design talent and the people you would be mentoring are resourced to the max. But every shop is different.

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@ACD4: you hiring?

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Being an ACD means many things. It is often defined by who your bosses are. Some may just need you to grind out quality work and not want you to manage. My last boss expected me to do both killer work all the time and also work with Junior teams— it was A LOT. But that experience earned me a following of juniors who specifically asked to work on my briefs. It also helped me learn how to curate work and by the time I was done at my last agency, I knew I was more than ready to move into a CD role.

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Thanks all. Glad I’m not alone. I feel like my Cd will give the team feedback and I’m just like yep... I’ll start taking the reins more

I’m in the same position as ACD4- it’s pretty great. It benefits the agency too bc you don’t have the redundancy of having an ACD and CD billing the same clients/projects when one is usually not doing much.

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