In a perfect world, collaboration with clientele would always be a seamless, and easy-going experience. However, no matter the industry, many professionals have come across “challenging” collaborators at some point in their careers. To truly bring a stakeholder’s vision to life, clear communication and reassurance can sometimes be the key to simplifying roadblocks and turning a negative collaborative session into a positive, productive one.
ArtVersion, along with other 16 experts and fellow contributors to Forbes’ expert panel, shared their tips on navigating a “challenging” client. Experts across all industries weighed in their advice based on experience and suggested prioritizing empathy over expertise, encouraging regroups to ensure project alignment, establishing boundaries, and more.
The ArtVersion team suggested an approach that focused on ensuring team-client personalities matched for difficult projects. The most important part of digital design collaboration is guaranteeing that a client can attain a design that they can proudly claim ownership of, and oftentimes, that requires patience, empathy, and a personality match.
“Start by rethinking the composition of the team that is handling the client or the process itself. A personality match is mandatory in order to adequately serve the account. In the creative services industry, there are “difficult” projects that are often driven by short turnarounds; rush jobs often create worry and fear if the team member handling it is not used to the fast pace.”
– Goran Paun, Principal & Creative Director at ArtVersion
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About Forbes Agency Council
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About ArtVersion
ArtVersion is an award-winning design consultancy from Chicago with clients around the world. Serving brands since 1999, the ArtVersion team consists of visual designers, branding strategists and developers. Most known for pioneering user experience design as a discipline, ArtVersion has been a trusted partner for a number of Fortune 500 companies, non-profit organizations and notable startups.