11 tips for better creative project management

Thinking of new ideas, developing the concept, mastering the skills, planning the process, experimenting and problem-solving, polishing and adding final touches, nailing the execution, sharing the work, collecting feedback, and then presenting results. Seems chaotic, doesn’t it?

These are just a few of the steps that go into producing amazing creative projects. And those are all the areas you should reign in to realize your projects fully. 

Especially if the project is a collaborative effort, efficient, creative project management can be what separates success from failure. You must strategize and have a clear game plan to make your creative projects a reality. 

Keep reading to join forces with your team and help your projects reach their full potential!

5 main challenges of creative project management

The tricky thing about creative project management is striking the right balance between structure and flexibility. Creativity craves space, innovation, and flow. Creation needs clarity, consistency, and accountability.

With that in mind, let’s do a bit of stretching before we sink into the deep pool that is effective creative project management. Understanding the challenges that may come with it will help you prepare and devise ways to get around the blockage. If you’re a creative in project management, you will likely have to work through:

1. Non-linear workflows

You can’t always set a highly specific process when working on a creative project, as it may kill innovation. Needless to say, working with non-linear workflows and iterative processes will be one of the biggest challenges you’ll have to figure out in creative project management.

They’re necessary so the project can bloom, but you will need to find a way to set some structure to move the project along.

2. Diverse skill sets and personalities

Working with talented people can yield beautiful results. However, getting people to work together efficiently isn’t always a walk in the park. As such, one of the challenges to overcome as a project manager is learning to work with the different skills and personalities of the people on your team. 

3. Frequent flux

Adaptability is the name of the game in this situation. And problem-solving is a key aspect of being a good project manager for creatives. This entails being on top of the project and the team’s needs. Moreover, it requires you to adapt to frequent changes quickly and appropriately to guarantee the project will continue moving smoothly.

4. Complicated communication 

Who said what to whom, where, how, and when. Communication is often complicated. People make assumptions, information isn’t always complete or precise, and there are lies, mistakes, misunderstandings, and plenty of other mishaps that derail proper communication. 

For that reason, tackle it as a creative project manager. Just making sure that communication is flowing effectively will make your work that much more straightforward. However, getting there will require hard work (find more tips below!).

5. Balancing deadlines

We’ll say it again: you will need to learn to walk the tightrope between structure vs. freedom as a project manager for creatives. And it will be a challenge. When will you put your foot down? How much time can you spare? How innovative do you want the project to be? 

These are some of the questions you should answer to keep some control over the project while allowing it to be all it can be. More help with this later.

11 tips for better creative project management

Now you know about the challenges of creative project management, but what do you actually have to do in order to come out on top?

Here are 11 key tips you should keep in mind if you are to put together a strong creative project — ones that will guide you even when you think you’re a little bit lost.

1. Clear communication

What good is having a team of talented professionals if no one knows what’s going on? To avoid complete and utter chaos, maintain clear communication with your team. This not only means crafting focused and transparent messages (which is also essential) but also allowing communication to flow. 

Make better communication one of your primary objectives as a project manager for creatives, and you’ll see how the rest of the pieces start to fit together.

2. Defined goals

If you don’t want to get lost in your creative projects, define goals that will give you the direction and motivation you need. The best way to do it is to be SMART about it. This means setting goals that are:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Realistic
• Time-Bound

Of course, this includes sharing your goals effectively with your team.

3. Flexible planning

And going back to flexibility, you will need it when planning. Though these may seem like antonyms, you can make them work together. As stated, be firm about the decisions you make regarding the creative project. For instance, when setting goals, assigning roles, allocating resources, communicating, etc. 

Still, you should never sacrifice flexibility, adaptability, and evolution. They can lead to collaboration and an elevated result.

4. Accountability

When you’re working with a team on a time crunch, you’re assuming every single one of the members is doing their best to achieve the project’s goals. But you know what they say, “when you assume, don’t!”

To avoid guessing games that can lead to unwanted consequences, keep accountability as one of your guiding principles. Assign roles and responsibilities clearly and verify that teammates keep their end of the bargain. 

Additionally, show your team how the project is progressing and ask them to hold you accountable.

5. The right tools

Do you know what one of the best things about creative project management is in this day and age? You don’t have to go at it alone! Nowadays, plenty of tools and techniques at your fingertips can make your life (and project management) infinitely easier. Look out for:

• Project management platforms to organize tasks and timelines. 
• Visual collaboration tools link Visme for brainstorming and ideation.
• Communication systems that promote transparency and reduce delays.

Some platforms also work with an integrated approach. For example, Nulab offers a suite of tools for project management, diagramming, bug tracking, and single sign-on. Use them to streamline processes, improve productivity, and assist in creative project management.

Making sure you have all of the resources to produce your project seamlessly is also super helpful. For example, if your project requires 3D assets or audio tracks, a platform like Envato, with an impressive array of premium sound files, could fit right in.

6. Understand your team

As you know, management is all about working with people and being a leader. A happy team that feels united and safe will collaborate better and produce more outstanding work. Take some time to truly understand your team. This not only means learning their names! You should also:

• Identify their strengths, areas of opportunity, and ways of working.
• Navigate interpersonal relationships wisely.
• Tailor your management style to fit your team’s needs.
• Build trust with them and strengthen your professional relationship with them.
• Encourage your team to do their best work and take ownership of what they create.

All of this will maximize engagement, nurture creativity, and foster effective collaboration.

7. Collaborate better

And while we’re on the subject of fostering effective collaboration, here’s more to think about. Once again, you’re working with a team of experts who are the best at what they do. Take full advantage of that. You want ideas to run freely and for the creation process to be a conversation where team members can have input. To make it happen:

• Set ground rules about how to collaborate to keep your team focused and on the right track.
• Encourage open dialogue and mutual respect among the different team members.
• Create collaborative spaces with tools that enable real-time collaboration, as well as tools to centralize communication and file sharing for improved remote collaboration.
• From time to time, promote the interaction between members from different areas to share ideas and provide new perspectives.

Collaboration will also get all of your team on the same page. Moreover, they will feel seen, respected, and validated. This will enrich the culture and ultimately translate into an even more awesome project.

8. Communicate clearly

Once again, communication is key. You probably won’t get very far if this part isn’t working effectively. After all, ambiguity is a creativity killer that will haunt the project and push people away. Prioritize clear communication to help your team align on goals, expectations, and progress. 

While it may seem complicated, you can improve communication massively with these tips:

• Set SMART objectives (as stated above) and verify that everyone understands them.
• Share detailed briefs and project guidelines from the get-go.
• Schedule regular check-ins or meetings to track progress and address questions or issues early.
• Provide official communication channels and guide your team on how to use them appropriately.
• When needed, use visual aids or diagrams to make complex ideas and strategies more accessible.
• Keep communication open and create a safe space where your team can give feedback, voice concerns, or make suggestions.

If you have good communication, half the battle will be won. You won’t have to deal with as many misunderstandings, and you’ll keep the project moving freely. 

9. Respect the creative process

Creativity also thrives in a relaxed environment where it can grow and evolve. This is why you must respect the creative process and give it the time, space, and freedom it needs. But how can you respect the creative process? Well:

• Allow room for exploration, iterations, and flexibility in the timeline.
• Show support for innovative ideas and approaches.
• Point out and acknowledge creativity within your team.
• Recognize the importance of downtime in sparking imagination and originality.

Following these tips will keep you from stifling or smothering the creativity of your projects. On the contrary, you’ll be taking creative risks to help them blossom stronger than ever.

10. Plan strategically

Likewise, creativity needs certain guidelines and restrictions to be able to flourish beautifully. It moves up and down and all around, and you should catch and contain it before it becomes too erratic. Proper planning and organization are the best approaches. You can build a framework that can guide the process without being restrictive. To implement this:

• Break large projects into smaller, manageable tasks to make them less overwhelming and give accurate direction.
• Use project management tools to assign responsibilities and deadlines and to track progress.
• Be aware of challenges and potential risks, and plan how to work through them.

11. Manage your resources

Last but definitely not least, you must keep your resources in mind while managing your creative projects. These are the materials, tools, space, time, energy, and budget you have available for your project’s completion. For this reason, effective resource management is an integral part of being a manager. To master it fully, take a look at these tips:

• Be ahead of the project’s needs and identify the resources required so they’re available right away.
• Track how the resources are used and adjust accordingly to ensure they will always be present.
• When possible, look for opportunities to maximize efficiency and repurpose assets.

Confirming that your team and your project aren’t missing any resources is a surefire way to give creativity the means to go where it needs to in a breeze.

Final thoughts

It may seem that creativity and structure are mortal enemies. After all, one seeks freedom, while the other needs to set rules. Because of this, creative project management can be incredibly chaotic if you’re not careful. 

Getting a group of people to work together while finding the exact middle ground between creativity and structure won’t be an easy feat. But it can be done. With proper communication, practical tools, clear objectives, and an extraordinary team, you’ll achieve all you want out of your creative projects.

Once you have that process down, you’ll find it’ll become easier the more you do it. In the end, you’ll be able to embrace organized chaos to unlock your team’s full potential.

Author bio

Dacia Egurrola is a staff writer at Envato. Based in Guadalajara, Mexico, Dacia has a major in communications and over nine years of experience in content marketing. When she’s not crafting keyword magic, you’ll find her dancing—or enjoying a well-earned bag of potato chips.