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You should want your juniors to be honest with you. Being annoyed because you didn’t speak up when you were a junior is entirely your problem. Be a better manager than the one you had and talk to them. That being said just saying “no” is obviously not okay at any level but explaining what else they have going on or why they may not be able to help immediately is always encouraged .
It should never be no. It should be around how to prioritize
There’s a larger problem of people
Entering advertising not really being passionate about it at all. Not everybody but a majority see it/want it to be a 9-5 job. But this is a job of making stuff. That’s rarely 9-5. And it takes people who care about what they’re making, even if it’s not the big, sexy stuff. Hell, I spent more late nights than I can count trying to “nail” a program ad or FSI insert. Paying your dues is real and really valuable. How else do you learn? This business is a business of craft. And you can’t get good at your craft if you aren’t willing to put in the hours.
Always saying yes will fuck you over. It took me a long time to figure out how to say no to things and once I did my work got way better. It’s okay for interns to say no they’re not your slaves and if you don’t like that, you don’t have to work with them again
AD3 for the win! I haven't read every response in this thread, but that was by far the most sound and actionable advice I have read here.
ECD2.........no. Not everyone works the same way?? Not everyone learns like that? I don’t understand why older management refuses to manage by saying millennials are just lazy. Everyone is different. Ahhhhhh why is this so hard!! Just talk to your employees! Give them a space to tell you if something is wrong!
For me it’s never an issue of “prioritizing my work” it’s the fact that I simply don’t have enough time.
While it can be annoying in the moment, I’d rather they’re honest so we can allocate accordingly. Also this industry is insane, and it won’t change unless people speak up when they’re asked to work a third weekend in a row
Zenith... I didn’t call anyone lazy. And I do actively manage workloads. OP asked for advice. I personally feel like I got better through the process of taking on too much work. And I feel like it helped my craft and my confidence. It’s fine if you learn differently.
I'm with ECD 1 and ECD 2. You're an adult, figure it out. If there's a pressing reason, something is misunderstood, or you genuinely need help, then of course speak up and we'll help anyway possible.
But saying, "No", because you simply don't want to do something... better hope the door hits you in the ass on the way out, instead of my foot.
Agree that’s good advice from AD3
@McCann2 oh man. Sick burn. But if I became an accountant, how could I ever become as cool as you?
I never said no as a junior. I’d get fired. It’s called paying your dues. Also life has taught me those that say the catch phrase too much on their plate are lying. It’s like how they say when you want something done ask a busy person to do it. I proved myself by making even boring coupons and mailers look interesting/cool.
Prioritizing work can mean pushing back deadlines to accommodate a workload or reallocating who is on what projects. Sometimes superiors don't know how long certain tasks take. Communicating this can only help. If you're overworked the problem is your agency, not your work ethic.
For perspective, I haven’t been a junior in 15 years and I can’t imagine a world where I say no to my current manager or his peer group (Exec team). To me this is a question of how you comport yourself professionally, not specific to juniors. The best time to learn how to push back tactfully (yes but, yes if) is at the junior level, so it’s second nature by the time you get to senior levels.
Quick question for all you CDs saying juniors should be “hungry” like you were:
Is there anything worth being hungry for anymore? Is there really? Or are you just mad people aren’t more excited about the steaming, disgusting garbage you’re piling on their plates?
@CW3 if that's how you/they really feel, then you're in the wrong business. And that's on you.
It saddens me the ECDs here saying to suck it up. I make it pretty clear to my teams that if they are afraid they don't have time for something, please speak up. There is a respectful way to establish boundaries while being a team player. We aren't crunching numbers here. Ideas need time to breathe.
Jesus. No one is saying suck it up. I’m saying being really busy leads to learning. And getting better, faster leads to confidence, competence and advancement. Again, I manage my people’s workloads. Nobody wants to wreck weekends. But if you want to make work that you’re proud of, or get a raise and/or a promotion, learning how to do this job quicker than your peers, helps. And we ECDs are also on the receiving end of endless “where are my opportunities/why can’t I get a raise” convos. And the answer to those is always “I give the opportunities to the people who I know won’t blow it” and “you get a raise and a promo when I’m scared shitless to lose you.” SO my advice remains. When in doubt, take it on. And it goes without saying that if you’ve got important life stuff going on, tell somebody and tap out.
NO MEANS NO
that being said juniors shouldn’t be arrogant. but people need to learn early on to be firm on stuff, if you’re constantly being asked to prioritize each demand as it comes in, you can’t get things done well or on time. if i’m ever in doubt about what the top priority is as a junior i always ask my manager. i personally have found it’s good to hold multiple people accountable so things can’t easily fall through the cracks. if it ain’t a top priority, it ain’t happening bishes.
@APD1 ...what do you call them instead?