#76 - Want to Give Your Team Perspective and Appreciation for Each Other? Try Role Swapping.

Think about your team and the roles each person plays. Does everyone fully understand what each others’ responsibilities are and the unique pressures, time, and skills they entail? Is there any mystery, uncertainty, or even (eek) jealousy between the team members? Perhaps switching things up will offer some perspective, understanding, and mutual appreciation amongst your team.

Role swapping can take many different forms, and you’ll need to give it some thought to make it work for your company. It most likely will never take the form of a complete job switch, but something more like a single assignment, a couple of hours, or a full day of new responsibilities. You could make it subtle or a full blown team building activity.

Not only will this help all of your employees understand and appreciate the various moving parts of the company, but it could also spark innovation and offer a fresh perspective on how things work and possibly bring big improvements.

Have you done this before? Let us know about any ideas or results in the comments.

Have you ever wondered what makes an inspirational leader and what makes people follow them and believe in them? Simon Sinek thinks he has found the link and shares his theory in this must see TedX video. After watching, tell us what you think about the Golden Circle. What leaders inspire you or with whom do you wish you could work?

#75 You can either talk to or listen to your clients. We recommend learning to listen; otherwise, there will be nothing to talk about.

We spend so much time preparing to talk. We plan to wow our clients with our brilliance, stories of our qualifications, case studies, images of our earth shattering portfolio, and the list goes on. But in preparing your presentation, did you allocate time for listening? I mean really listening. Have you researched questions to help you have a meaningful conversation? One that allows you to learn about your client and give them the opportunity to talk – so you can listen?

By asking the right questions and carefully listening to the answers, you can gain the trust of your clients. Clients want to feel like you are someone with whom they can share their story. And if they do, you will be a keeper of that story – one who is not only trusted with it, but also responsible for telling its next chapters.

But telling the right story is key. The right story will connect your client with his or her potential customers. The wrong story will alienate them. So how do you know the difference? It comes down to taking the time to getting to know your client. So next time, before the meeting, make some observations and ask some questions. Then put down the pen and just listen. And when you are done with the meeting, ask if there are any other things they want to ask you or tell you. This is a discipline, only to reach full potential and power once it has been practiced and turned into a natural part of how you interact.

For a further tip of hot to foster great communication, see a little tip from the one and only Ken.

So is this you? Are you only sort of listening? What do you do to listen to your clients?

Designer Sobriety began two years ago after a great response from my HOW presentation in Boston. The talk communicated the 12 steps we need to consider when trying to manage our careers. Since then, this blog has been dedicated to giving tips, and other thoughts, on the intersection of life and running a creative business. My goal was to evolve that concept into what we called “LifeKerning™” and develop a presentation, some helpful products, and ideally, a book.

So in early June I presented Life Kerning™: Where Life and Creativity Meet. You know how to design a beautiful layout, but what about balancing a busy creative life? Is it possible to build an inspired life that honors both your passions—a rewarding creative career and a joyful personal existence? We are here to tell you that it’s more easily achieved than you might think.

The main concept was that sometimes the slightest adjustments in your life could lead to a more enjoyable and rewarding career. The main points are summarized below:

Perspective: This point asks you to remember what you’re passionate about. Often when we get overwhelmed or discouraged we simply need to take a step back. Make a list to recall these passions that you can review every 3 months, 6 months, or once a year. Whatever works for you to keep them in the forefront.

Nudity: When you’re naked it’s hard to hide who you are. Your unique self is what makes your work different, important, and powerful. Are you being “nakedly” honest with the things you want to do that help you stand out? If not, then start. The more “you” that you are, the more you will enjoy your work and bring unique perspective to your team and clients.

Wisdom: Don’t do things on an island—have a group of wise counselors. We have talked about this point before, and believe that one of the best ways to navigate your career, your studio, you name it, is to create an advisory board. Trusted individuals can provide a different view, and give tough love when needed. They should be people you can count on for advice at any time. However, this only works if you take it seriously and put criteria in place so all parties know your expectations.

Decisions: The decisions you complain about are probably your fault to begin with. Do you have criteria in place to help you make decisions in the plentiful and not so plentiful times? Ask yourself:

Will it be profitable?
Will it be fun?
Will it attract other work?

If doesn’t fit two out of three, run. But that is just one perspective—what is your criteria?

Balance: There is no such thing. It’s a state of mind, or more precisely, a state of choices. What choices are you making that take all the previous points in consideration? Are you living a life that fuels your work, and are you working in a way that fuels your life? That “balance” is in your hands.

Serving: Do you want to change the way you run your life, your firm, and your perspective on the world? Then start to serve. Not just with your work, but with your time and your team. Even if you are a team of one. I guarantee your life will be better for it.

Some of our friends contributed their insight as well, including Dana Arnett via Ben Day, Eric Karjaluoto, Sean Adams, Debbie Millman, and Von Glitschka. Additionally, book recommendations are given that can expand on each point, or provide a different perspective.

To download the PDF of the presentation click here (beware it’s a biggie 33MBs). Since I memorized my notes, some of these slides may not make sense, but if you have questions or comments please leave them below.

PS: Please sign up for updates, look at past entries or tips here or here, and take part in this blog. There will be new articles posted again once a week.

When Google officially gained predominant (search engine) market share in 2000, the world wondered what they would do with such a vast audience. The answer?

Get more users.

While Google continues to (and should) consider itself primarily a search company, it has continued to increase its user base via its collection of communication tools, web apps, and mobile products. Of course this is no real surprise when one of the primary tasks of Google’s engineers is to create and implement new applications (via Google’s “20% Rule”).

The playground for this creative space is better known as the Google Laboratory, where popular products such as Gmail, Google Docs, Google Earth, and Google Maps (to name a few) were all birthed into existence. In fact, the Google Labs are spitting out new apps and reworking old ones at a rate that often makes it difficult to keep up. So, rather than have you waste a few hours (as I did) playing in Google’s playground, here are a few worthy of (seriously) considering putting to use.

#1 Google Places

Ever wonder how businesses show up on Google Maps when you do a basic Google search? It’s all dependent upon whether or not a business is appropriately listed via Google Places – Google’s local business center. Here’s why you this should be your first stop. It’s a free listing on Google!

Here’s the deal. Google’s algorithms are like the Coke formula, nobody “officially” knows what it is. However, those familiar with Google’s “ways” understand that Google gives preference to those who play by their rules and with their toys. Ready to play? Start here.

TIP: Be strategic about listing your 5 categories. List categories in which you believe might best match someone’s search string (i.e. Design Agency, Graphic Design, Creative, etc…)

NOTE: Many third-party services, such as DexKnows often list your business without you being aware. You might want to make sure you have control over what information and categories that are listed.

Check out the Google Places video

#2 Google Adwords

If you have anything left in your advertising budget and have never utilized Adwords, put everything else in it. Here’s why. It has changed the way advertising works. In the old days, advertising budgets were used to woo people over to their product without (necessarily) any pre-existing needs or wants. For example, you might encounter a large billboard on the highway telling you that you need a new car when you were perfectly happy with the one you were already driving.

Today, with a world of information at our fingertips, things operate a little differently. The internet is a place where people search when they already want and/or need something. In other words, when it comes to the web, businesses don’t need to convince someone they should have something, they’ve already convinced themselves. Now, it is just a matter of placing goods and/or services in front of an already interested customer.

This is where Adwords comes in. If you are unfamiliar, Google Ads are the ones that show up on the right side of your search query (and sometimes at the top left). These are relevant ads based on your search query. Who understands this in the design world? Check out for yourself…

#3 Google Apps

This one might be a little confusing. While we have referenced the conglomerate of Google tools and products as “apps”, Google has a specific service called Google Apps. In short, this is Google’s way of offering a cloud-like intranet – tools in which you can communicate and share information within a closed (or open) community. More specifically, Google Apps is means in which a company can utilize various tools such as Gmail, Google Docs, Calendar, Sites, Talk, Groups, and Video within their company system. You can even customize and/or “brand” (somewhat) the look of these applications to fit your company vibe. If you’ve fallen in love with Gmail and the likes in your “personal life,” might be worth making the shift.

NOTE: There are three service offerings for Google Apps – Premier ($50/user), Standard (Free), and Non-Profit/Education (Free).

#4 Google Analytics

It would actually be a bit shocking to me if you already have a website and have not implemented Google Analytics. If you haven’t, first, go and fire your web and/or IT guy. Second, get on it. And don’t even think about looking for a better metrics tool for web statistics. It’s that good.

There is actually a better chance that you have implemented Analytics into your site, but are not utilizing it for all its glory. Here’s a test. Do you know what a bounce rate is? Do you know via which page the majority of your visitors leave your site? Are people spending more time or less time on your site than they did last year? Have you integrated Adwords with Analytics? Do you know what keywords lead to actual conversions? If you are uncertain about any of these questions, it might be worth watching a tutorial or two.

SUGGESTION: Don’t let the complexity of the tool scare you. Take $50-$100 next month and buy 20 (relevant) keywords via Adwords and simply see what happens. You’ll likely become addicted.

#5 Google Adsense

Want to earn back a little bit of that advertising budget? Consider utilizing Google’s advertising revenue sharing service – Adsense. In short, this is the other side of Adwords, where you have the ability to place targeted ads on your own site and earn a share of what people are spending on Adwords.

If you are nervous about it messing with your layout, know that Google allows you to customize advertising options to match the look and feel that you hope to represent. For example, you have the ability to control what size and type (text, image, mobile, feed, or video) of ad shows up. More information can be found here…

NOTE: While you can’t control what ads show up on your site, you can always control what ads DON’T show up. Make sure you are not throwing business to your competition.

—-

More Information:

Google’s “Graduated” Product List

Google Labs (www.googlelabs.com)

Other Google Favorites:

Best Downloadable: Google Chrome

Best Gmail Plugin: Send and Archive

Biggest Time-Killer: Google Earth

Top Search Tweaks to Get What You Want: Google Search Features

Best Non-Web-Based App: GOOG-411

Best iPhone (Native) App: Google Mobile App (with Voice Recognition)

Best Tool for the World Traveler: Google Translate

Best App for the Urban Worker: Google Transit

Biggest Disappointment: Google Wave

App to Watch: Google Latitude

What are your Google likes, dislikes or secrets?

It was a mere 10 years ago this month that Google launched its MentalPlex product – one of Google’s first side projects that allowed users to simply “think” a search term that prompted a more timely and accurate query than ever before. Of course, this was also Google’s first foray into its annual April Fools hoax – a move that left thousands of users both captivated and perplexed. Pranks aside, this sentiment is actually not too far from Google’s core (search) philosophy. According to Google’s (once-upon-a-time) Chief Information Officer Douglas Merrill, “Our goal is to have the top [search] result be not just what you asked for, but what you should have asked for – what you meant.”

This “type of thinking” is at the heart of Google’s innovative environment. There is no doubt this mentality alongside Google’s capabilities scare a lot of people. I mean… its ultimate mission is to take “all the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” And fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your disposition), I think they are serious. But, we must not forget that Google has not always been the behemoth entity that it is today. It was only a little over a decade ago that Google began implementing some of the simplest, yet innovative, ideas of the last century. And as TED would say, these are “ideas worth spreading.”

Here are FIVE Google philosophies worthy of integrating into your own business/organization.

1. HIRE SMART PEOPLE. When is Google hiring? Depends on if you are smart or not. Most people still equate intelligence with grade point averages and SAT scores. While this might be a worthy gauge, this does not measure someone’s overall intelligence when it comes to work. “Smarts” are simply grounded in someone’s ability to think independently, participate in creative output, and problem-solve. Remember, it’s easier to teach a person how to “do” than how to “think.” Consider what this might means for your own working environment. And before you get too carried away with such a plan… might want to note what happens if you hire “too many” smart people.

2. “PRE-THINK” YOUR CUSTOMERS. Have you ever typed a phrase in Google knowing that you had no idea how to spell it? Hope to get the red-lettered phrase at the top of the screen that says “Did you mean…”? This is what Douglas Merrill (referenced above) was referring to when he asserted Google’s hopes are to provide its users with what they “meant” versus what they (seemingly) asked. Approaching a user base such as this requires a considerable amount of forethought, but worthy forethought none the less. What would it mean to understand your customer so well that you could preemptively suggest and/or provide what they actually need rather than what they may be inquiring about? And…what if this meant that you didn’t make a sell while doing it? Or put a little differently, what would it mean to…

3. MAKE MONEY WITHOUT DOING EVIL. As mentioned in an earlier DS post, serious consideration should be giving to the “ethical footprint” that we leave – a basic concept Google has been implementing for some time now. In short, honesty sits at the core of this philosophy. What would be uncovered if we were completely transparent? Does what we convey actually represent our organization? And as alluded to above, what would it mean to provide helpful feedback/advice, even if this meant losing a sale?

4. INSTILL A 20% TIME RULE. Over the last decade, Google’s “20% Rule” has become a corporate fascination by both insiders and outsiders. In short, Google encourages/requires its employees to spend 20% of their paid work time (equivalent to 1 day per week) doing something company related AND something that personally interests them. Of course, ideally you and/or your employees are already doing something you love. The difference here is that Google is not only opening up its resources to bring visions to fruition, they are enabling the autonomy to dream and implement. If you can create it, they will try it. Interestingly enough, over 50% of Google’s products have emerged from this 20% time including Gmail, Adsense, Google Talk, Google Earth, Orkut, and Google News to name a few. There is no doubt that there are a lot of people/organizations intrigued by Google’s 20% rule. The real question is whether these same people are making it a reality in their own work environment. How about you?

5. PLAY. The annual April Fools pranks are not the only reminder that Google doesn’t take themselves too seriously. Known as one of the “Best Companies to Work For” according to Fortune, Google has become a master at creating not only an innovative environment – but a playful one. (Or is this one and the same?) Your company might not have the financial resources to provide numerous workout facilities, an outdoor volleyball court, or community bikes and scooters to get around, but it does have the means to create a playful environment.

What does play look like in your workplace?

So we are wrapping up discussing four main topics:

1 Relationship King
2 Service Superstar
3 Industry Ally
4 Valuable Partner

NUMBER FOUR: Valuable Partner

Do you have clients who would say you are an integral part of their business? If not, what are you doing to get there? #beirreplaceable

Taking care of your current clients is just as important as getting new ones. We have covered ways to make yourself as irreplaceable as possible. All of the tips in the world still pale in comparison to just good old fashioned great work. If you are not producing great, strategic, well thought out creative, then all the tips in the world will not matter.

Avoid Status Quo: In this writer’s opinion that also means continually helping your clients progress. When you have a client for a long time, it’s easy to get into a lull of expected solutions. When you feel this is starting to happen, switch up the creatives working on it, or have critiques with design friends. Do whatever you can to keep some fresh perspective. You can also take a time out to have a retreat with your client once a year and take a look at their business together. Look at trends, competition and internal scenarios to make sure you are helping them stay fresh with a current perspective.

Set Boundaries: You are only as valuable as you are excited about working with certain clients, but every excitement has to have its limits. When you set boundaries for your personal well-being, your clients still need to feel you have their best interests in mind. So be clear about your work hours, your availability, your payment needs, project process, key contacts, etc. Conversely, take initiative to learn their expectations, too. This way both parties will know expectations, have less communication issues along the way, and you can focus on what is important - the work.

Stay Optimistic: EVERYONE has tough clients. No matter how big or famous. So remember that if you are in a challenging scenario, people have been in your situation before. Some have been fired by clients, have done 50 logo revisions, dealt with project creep, and have been beaten down by an experience. You have a choice: you could get upset about it, or you can be optimistic and figure out how to appropriately handle the scenario. Handling something difficult properly will reap you awards 100% of the time. And it allows you to keep an optimistic mojo to handle these types of scenarios better or to avoid them altogether.

Being a valuable partner is mixture of process, time, manners, vision, consistency and understanding that we are a service business. When we realize these truths of our industry and learn how to incorporate them into a work flow that helps create great work, we are on our way to being irreplaceable.

#74 Don’t dread the cold call; own it by being prepared, strategic and ready to promote yourself. It’s an opportunity. Get ready to nail it.

The next several tips will talk about those things we all hate to do or tend to avoid. The one we are focusing on today is the dreaded cold call. First things first: if you are just calling companies with no plan in mind, STOP. You are wasting time. Cold calls are your lowest percentage of new business, so you have to be prepared. Here are some simple tips:

1. Do your research - See if they are a client that you are interested in. Do they seem to appreciate creative, or do they need a lot of help? Either way, is there an area you can capitalize on and show your experience? Like their web, social media, or upcoming tradeshow?

2. Have reasonable expectations - You are not going to “close the sale” on the phone. What you want to do is get a chance for a meeting in person or some sort of follow up. Focus on getting a meeting. Statistically it takes the majority of us five or more points of contact to get a project (if there is one). Don’t get discouraged.

3. Be ready with your calendar - Be prepped with days and times you are available to meet, and always be ready to jump on an opportunity.

4. Gatekeepers are your amigos - Too often I hear of people trying to do battle with someone’s gatekeeper. Remember, though, they are called gatekeepers for a reason…have good manners and be honest with them. Being professional with a sprinkle of charm usually gets you some great feedback and the information needed to get to the next level.

5. The greeting of success - Have an opening statement ready. Practice it as many times as it takes for it to sound natural. Think about what they may be looking for and have information that reflects the research you have done. In your prep time, think about any questions or objections they may have, and be ready to answer.

These are just a few cold calling thoughts - what are some of your tips? Any horror stories or success stories you want to share?

Welcome to part three of a very important topic in our opinion: making yourself irreplaceable. How are you going to do that?

So we are discussing four main topics to think about:

1 Relationship King
2 Service Superstar
3 Industry Ally
4 Valuable Partner

NUMBER THREE: Industry Ally

How are you showing your clients that you understand their needs, their industry, their dreams? Understand their business and #beirreplaceable

In design school we studied things like theory, typography, history, production and if we were lucky, a little marketing. But most of us had very little business exposure, training, or understanding on how to relate our design education to the business world. More than ever we need to take time to understand our clients’ needs and points of pain. If you don’t specialize, which is a whole other subject to talk about, then you may have a lot of homework (depending on how many different industries your clients are in). Here are a few tips on how to learn about your clients’ world:

1) Listen for industry terms, trends, acronyms and competitive speak in meetings so you can google it later. If you have a great rapport ask for details in the meetings, or do both. This will also give you a chance to do more online research to help you understand your client’s world better.

2) Read your clients’ and/or their industries’ leading blogs via RSS or subscribe to thier industry publications. A peek now and then will help you stay up to speed and could give you ideas on ways to help them stand out. These will also help you with new regulations, trends, or major topics that will help you understand where they are coming from.

3) Try to understand your clients’ corporate culture. If for example they have an initiative to be more sustainable, you can recommend making an online report and/or using more FSC certified printers or paper. Or if they want to increase internal communications, you could help them set up an intranet or create internal environmental messaging, brainstorm team events, etc. Whatever the case, when you understand your client, the best chance for more business is with a client you already doing business for.

4) Going to trade shows can be an amazing way to create a deeper relationship with your client. Spending time with them in their world, walking the floor to talk about competition or where they want to go can be invaluable. Also, depending on the industry, there could be many new opportunities by working with suppliers, clients or even competition where acceptable. Having an understanding and track record in that industry helps you sell and makes you more of an expert.

5) Use your collective experiences from other industries too. Some project or program you did in one industry might be “cutting edge” or refreshing in another. Figure out ways to share that knowledge to make a case and show your clients how you can help them stand out in their market.

The best practice is and will always be to do your homework and have conversations with your clients. From there you create relationships that allow you to serve them better. And then they will value your services as irreplaceable to them.

What do you do to stay on top of your clients’ business?

#73 If you’re not sketching enough, start collecting images or ideas on your phone. Visual reminders are just as important.

I’ve sketched or doodled as long as I can remember. But, as the busyness of  life, work, etc. has built up, my sketching has decreased. I have always felt very strongly that nothing is better then pen to paper, and when I don’t have time to sketch, I get frustrated.

But then along came the iPhone. I never thought I would use a camera phone. It has decent resolution but is often blurry, lacking a flash for low-light scenes. However, as I started taking shots to remember well-designed stuff, funny scenes, and various people or places that inspired me, I found myself stockpiling mounds of inspiration. And then I realized that it wasn’t just a resource, but a visual sketching of sorts.

So, if you get bummed out that you don’t sketch more, buy some cool photo apps, shoot whatever you can, and have fun with them. It still doesn’t bring me the same feeling as when I can actually sketch, but it is equally as cool in a different way. Here are some apps we are currently digging:

ShakeIt Photo: shakeitphoto.com
CrossProcess: crossprocessapp.com

There are also some great sketching apps that you can get crazy with if you do have some time or don’t have paper nearby. Plus with the new iPad coming out, it makes apps like brushes even more exciting to try. Go to this site and see what can be done with brushes - pretty amazing.

Brushes: brushesapp.com

What are your favorite photo habits, apps, or other ways to capture inspiration?