How do you manage expectations when working with cross-functional teams, especially when project timelines are tight? I’ve been juggling a couple of projects where clients expect quick turnarounds, but internal teams have competing priorities and different workflows. It’s tough being in the middle—trying to keep clients happy without burning out my colleagues. I’ve tried regular status updates and setting clear deadlines, but things still slip through the cracks. How do you balance advocating for your clients while keeping internal relationships strong? Any strategies that have worked for you?

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“Clients expect quick turnarounds”

Are these items verifiably okay to be quick (3 headlines of copy alt for an email) or are these full projects with quick turnarounds?

I once worked on a small piece of business that was 5% of the attention span of the agency. Smaller the scope, greater the audacity. If the client won’t wait and let the timeline play out, the agency and the piece of business might not be a pairing.

I won’t break my creative team to work nights and weekends because the business model doesn’t support the client demand. That’s literally giving to a paying client off the backs of our workers and the only people who win are the house.

Now if you’re more like sharing someone 50/50, then a PM needs to mediate.

It’s all about context - can you give some examples? Maybe there’s a happy medium here, but all too often I find “this client cannot afford this agency” and the agency is being too greedy.

I get this feeling. It’s so hard being in the middle! I try my best to always overestimate a deadline with my client and underestimate it with my team to try my best to avoid instances like this. I also learned that you attract more bees with honey, so I try to be on my sweetest, best behavior with my colleagues. I found that helps speed things up

Are… are you on my cross-functional team… right now?

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