Creative differences are par for the course when you work with other creatives.
What you might find appealing or engaging won’t necessarily be the same for your colleagues.
So, how do you handle conflicts that arise over creative direction in a remote work setting?
Evaluate
Where are these creative differences coming from?
Do you, as a team, all have different ways of achieving the same outcome? Or do you all have various goals you want to accomplish?
Often, the creative differences stem not from the actual task, but from the communication, process, or the relationships you have with others.
So, when things start to feel a little tense, stop and think about where the conflict is coming from.
Establish Clear Goals
Creative differences can arise from vague or unclear expectations.
So, be sure to define your objectives from the beginning.
You want each team member to understand their role in the project so they can avoid stepping on each other’s toes.
Be Open to Constructive Criticism
No one likes hearing “negative” feedback.
However, instead of dwelling on it and making yourself feel even worse, think about what you can learn from it instead.
What are your colleagues trying to say? What specific aspects of your performance can you improve on based on their feedback?
Don’t take these criticisms personally.
Most of the time, they’re not meant to attack you as a person but are solely about your output.
Maybe there’s a more efficient way to do things and achieve a better outcome—and filtering constructive criticism could lead you to it.
Remain Respectful
Sometimes, our emotions can get the best of us.
As a result, it can be difficult to tone down your voice or even find the right words when you’re already in the thick of things.
However, try to remain as calm and respectful as you can. Resolving creative differences requires that you listen to understand before you respond.
Remember, all of you are working towards the same goal.
Accept That There Will Be Differences
Apart from creative differences, you’ll most likely come into conflict with your coworkers in other areas due to varying opinions.
However, this diversity can also help all of you come up with unique solutions.
Again, Don’t Take It to Heart
In a remote team full of creatives, conflicting opinions are to be expected. No two persons are alike, after all.
However, give people the benefit of the doubt because they were hired for a reason.
Give your input when asked, but give people space to handle their own responsibilities because they (presumably) know what they’re doing.
On that note, if you want to work online as part of a creative team, head on to Remote Staff’s job board. It’s regularly updated and has open roles across several industries.
Remote Staff has also been around for 16 years (and counting)! The company also assigns you a dedicated Client Relations Executive (CRE), who can help should you encounter any issues at work—creative differences included.
Interested? Register today!
