How do you deal with working on a brand that you're new on and all the past work has been awful but you're forced to continue on with the look/feel/tone of?

like
Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

Honestly, sometimes it's all about biding your time, and finding the right opportunity to improve the work. You can do it in small ways along the way, and then when the campaign refresh comes around, your previous knowledge of the brand will propel your work to a place that makes all parties happy

like

Without offending people, but pushing for better more evolved work?

like

Frame your recommendations as opportunities based on new learnings or insights. Hopefully your strategist can back you up here. If your clients are rational, they'll be down for the change. Adding to everyone's comments that it's important here to make everyone feel confident about the change, rather than embarrassed about the current state of affairs.

like

An old and very experienced creative once told me: "No matter how much you polish a turd, it will never turn into a diamond". Call it out in a nice way. Surely you will have allies. Figure out a way. Don't compromise and if told to, make the change. Account or agency. Life's to short for shit.

like

@freelance1 yes, the people who made the shitty work are in my company (and on my team). The company has had this brand for 5+ years

like

Right. Don't come with guns blazing of ideas to change it all. Work on gelling with team first, ask "stupid" questions to hear rationale and introduce things like "oh, ok, I see, I'm just wondering since I'm new and was thinking what if...blah blah". On a personal coping level, try not to take the whole thing too seriously do it doesn't drive you crazy...

like

Sorry, misread how do you "feel"..
So the previous team is from your agency? Not inherited from previous agency?

like

Maybe provide an alternate? See how everyone feels and if it's the preferred option propose a creative reset?

like

Agreed. Take slow and play a long game to improve elements over time.

like

One time I was being briefed on a new project at a new agency. They pulled out the old work and I just started laughing. Pointing at things like "omg who did this?!" Well it turns out the guys that did it were the ones showing me it. It was a little awkward BUT I think to some degree they KNEW it was wack and wanted me to help them make it better. It was sad though when eventually even my work ended up looking shitty due to their rules. Best thing to do is honestly try to switch to another project ASAP.

like

Like putting on a noose 😖

Build on the best bits. You have the opportunity to make it better. The phrase you're only as heroic as the villain you overcome springs to mind.

Heart to heart with your strategist is a good start-- see where you can strategically begin to pivot the brand ever so slightly that it opens the door for better ideas

@FormerGrey but probably not a good idea to do this one on one right? Or maybe just casually over some alcohol?

Related Posts

I will say this I love working with the students . I love getting to know them . I smile to myself when I go to work . I still feel this way after last week being asked my three different people about doing something where I told them that I was not going to do. following day I was then ambushed by admin (where I have never felt more like nothing. Following this encounter with people in charge I had an anxiety attack. This was terrible and I have no trust . TAs are mistreated. Similar story?

like

How do you deal with a senior member of the team that doesn’t value your input? I’d love to be more involved but I feel like I’m not given a chance to

like

How to ask for a raise when you have more responsibility ?
Is it normal for people to ask for a raise when more responsibility/task fall under them? My company is going through separation and unfortunately my team is the one getting separated, I have to take on responsibility of another 3 people and continue to deliver the same after separation… how will you start this conversation with your manager ? Thanks in advance.

What is your biggest challenge as a plus size professional ... wardrobing? Air travel? Perception/image? Energy/stamina? Outright discrimination?

like

Things have been super stressful at work lately for a variety of reasons & a couple of weeks ago I decided to raise the issues with my Creative Director.
For context, he’s the reason for a lot of these problems and I (tactfully, I think) said as much. He listened to me patiently but took no responsibility and deflected blame with every issue raised.
Today he asked me to send an email to him about how overworked I am so that he can use it to talk to management. (cont. in comments)

like

My partner is unstable, refuses to take their meds. Regularly snaps and lashes out at me. Im leaving and I feel compelled to tell HR for my replacement’s sake. Am I out of line?

I lashed out emotionally at work recently as of result of a lot pent up frustration. In short I accused those around me of personally attacking me. And I am worried I will loose my job as of result.

like

I’ll be asking my last job for a letter of recommendation but I’m not sure who to ask. My boss, who is lovely and would write an amazing LOR. Or my boss's boss who would put minimal effort in but it would have more weight.

like

Random question, my boss wants me to become a notary so I can handle notarizing all of the official documents myself. Has anyone else been asked to do this for their employer? Is it ethical?

like

Two people on my team of four quit today. I am now the most senior person, with just over one year of experience. Wtf.

like

Anyone else’s love life so DRY that you find yourself having a crush on an older man at work who is in senior leadership? I keep it professional, but I feel like I’m doing something so bad by having this crush.

like

How can I get my *micro* manager off my back? I know I haven’t been doing the best work this quarter, but emailing me all damn day isn’t going to help me do better, I do know that.

like

I've been working at this company for about 3.5 weeks now. Its been great so far.

We have an org chart in our dashboard ATS/HRIS and so I clicked on my first day buddies name just for fun.

I was able to see her entire employee file..even her address. I was really freaked out and I went to another profile and the same thing happened, I was able to see this person's emergency contact. Is this fucking normal? Should I say something and will I get in trouble for looking at a colleagues file?

like

Have you ever been told off by an older attorney of color? We have one Black partner at our firm and in conversation with him this morning he told me I should work on sounding and looking "more professional" and not let my "tone" or "bad attitude" get in the way. I don't think I've ever had a bad attitude at work, and whatever "tone" I'm speaking in it's my normal one. As a Black woman I just feel super weird about it and kind of sad.

like

My coworker always takes a super long lunch. How does he have the time to get anything done?

like

A creative team I started working with recently has decided to ignore my every comment. They take feedback from anyone else but me, and whenever I push them to make said changes, they just pick fights and make snarky comments. Anyone have any idea why this might be?

like

Fishbowl gentlemen, what are you wearing to your holiday party? 👔👗👙👘🎩

like

Hey everyone! This bowl is geared towards all those open-mind professionals who love to cut loose when they’re not focusing on their careers. Any fun stories involving colleagues?

likesmart

Hi friends,

I'm a new joinee in MSFT.

People in my team they don't come with me for breaks. (They blame the timings are different since they sit in crits but i don't think so because they have their own group of friends to go with)

Secondly, when my team members see me in cafeteria we expect they'll sit with us but people here are being rude they directly go and sit with their friends they don't call you to join. ( atleast they could have said they are accompanied)

People behave unpleasant

like

Need advice & perspectives: I got a verbal review from my manager saying he couldn’t see me as senior cuz I didn’t follow the design doc format he mandates from all designers. While I have been the only designer who does almost everything from design, UI asset creation, wiring up UI in Unity (I am in mobile gaming).
Also the product I’m on has been in MVP stage, things move extremely fast and design decisions changed constantly. He’s not on my team.
Am I crazy for thinking him a bad manager?

like

More Posts

Whirlpool is closing their doors? What happens to the in-house agency?

like

For experienced accounting professionals considering a transition into a career with solid work/life balance, a fast-growing biotech company near San Francisco is hiring for a SOX Compliance Manager and Senior Accountant/Manager roles.

Generous benefits, fun company culture, and VERY favorable stock options. Message me if interested, and I will try to screen you for an interview!

Hi people,
Need referals at
Eli lilly . I am currently an analyst in Novartis. Yoe- 1.8
Kindly refer if possible
Thankyou

Hi everyone! I'm a recruiter working for a great startup health-tech company who is looking to bring on a Sr. Product Marketing professional (Director+ level) to be the lead of their marketing function. Must be located on the East Coast and have technical marketing experience in either AI / Cloud / Cybersecurity. Please DM me if interested to chat live about details or know someone who could be interested. Thanks!

likeuplifting

Hey Guys, I have applied to Accenture through their Accenture India portal and it's still showing pending review and my interview hasn't been scheduled yet. as I checked found out that pending review means the Application has been passed from HR to the operations team what should I do now as it's been more than 4 weeks and I haven't received any response from them and there is no way to contact them.i am getting a little frustrated about this

like

Hi all, for anyone that’s gone through associate level interview at McK, can you speak to the turnaround time for offer after final interview?

like

Was on a call hungover and high today negotiating a $1.5M contract 😬

likeupliftingfunny

Any tips for the functional interview for Amazon’s Contracts Manager position? Studying the leadership principles but don’t want to overlook the functional portion.

like

Anyone going in on VNET?

like

Guys, how much hike we can generally expect in Altimetrik.

Anyone else having trouble finding free fraud based CPE trainings? My job does not pay for these things so I wasnt sure if anyone else had a solution or source. I need 4 more hours of fraud based CPE and havent found much on ACFE or AICPA that I can use. Ive joined a local CFE chapter but not much is going on with it.

like

Do any firms in the forensics world offer to pay for MBAs?

like

Hi Fishesh
I have been selected for HCL Tech
as per recruiter’s confirmation I have uploaded required documents
But did not received offer letter yet
Trying to reach recruiter but they are not receiving my calls either from last week.
on Ionboard portal I can see the 50% process has beed completed.
Is this a normal process in HCL ?
what should i do? please suggest

like

Can anyone share their experience as an Aldi Store Manager? Mixed reviews on Glassdoor and Indeed.

likehelpful

How is Salesforce project in Coforge? WLB etc..

like

I have a few LPs to cover where my stories are not solid before my loop on Monday. Feeling a little demotivated because I felt I had more time to prepare. Don't plan on asking for extension.

How did you motivate yourself to study and prep for the LPs? Tips...advice on what worked, thanks!

like
like

Hi,

Looking for a job change.
Skill: Jaspersoft/ BI reporting
YOE: 6.3 years.

Kindly refer for suitable vacancy.

Thanks😇

like

Can someone on a Manager salary afford a $675k house on a single $140k salary? With 20% down?

Additional Posts in Advertising

🐠 Would you rather work on award winning next level creative with zero work life balance or churn out mediocre work and have a healthy work life balance?

like

Books on human psychology that have affected you. I'll start: influence, sales Bible, on killing.

like

It goes down in the company bowl.

like

Moving to Chicago on Thursday! How do I like...make friends

likehelpful

Hate open offices? Blame Jay Chiat. Him and his architect Gaetano Pesce came up with the concept and popularized it. It was suppose to be like “working in a big living room.”

like

Starting my first job at a big agency in the coming week! Any tips on relationship building with my manager and teammates?

like

The current opening for Program Director at Razorfish NY - What's the deal? Good gig? Spill the beans.

like

Anyone else two Phones club 👍

like

Hate to say it but uber is definitely in tune

Post Photo
likefunny
funnylike

Do you think YouTube had what's coming to them with 250 advertisers pulling budgets after finding YT had selling advertising on radical extremist videos? 💣

like

Does anyone know of a creative who has served in Congress since the creative revolution?

likefunny

Is it just me or is everyone in this industry in a relationship?

like

Can anyone share any examples of outstanding direct to consumer healthcare ads?

like

Can you be hospitalized for exhaustion?

like

Anyone know good headhunters for finding In-House gigs at Tech/Startups?

like

My agency doesn’t submit for awards, and I’m not saying I’d win if they did. But as much as we say awards don’t matter, it feels like they do at a lot of places I’d like to eventually work. How difficult is it to submit on my own? Or am I better off finding a place that does submit and is willing to hire me without awards?

like

Things have been super stressful at work lately for a variety of reasons & a couple of weeks ago I decided to raise the issues with my Creative Director.
For context, he’s the reason for a lot of these problems and I (tactfully, I think) said as much. He listened to me patiently but took no responsibility and deflected blame with every issue raised.
Today he asked me to send an email to him about how overworked I am so that he can use it to talk to management. (cont. in comments)

like

With so many professionals working from home due to Covid-19, what are your tips / strategies for being productive when WFH?

Any good WFH stories from this week?

like

Lots of people leaving WK Portland it seems. Layoffs or voluntarily?

like

New to Fishbowl?

Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
  • Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
  • Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
  • Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.

Already a user?
Login here

Share

Embed this post

Copy and paste embed code on your site

Preview

Download the
Fishbowl app

See what’s happening in your industry
from the palm of your hand.

A phone with Fishbowl app

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

Download app

Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Already have an account? Log in

Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use(New) and Privacy Policy(New)
Messaging rates may apply

Already have an account? Log in

For account settings, visit Fishbowl on Desktop Browser or

General

Legal