What Changes to Team Workflow Can Significantly Improve Productivity for a Marketing Manager?
Marketer Magazine
What Changes to Team Workflow Can Significantly Improve Productivity for a Marketing Manager?
In the quest for peak team efficiency, Marketing Managers and Directors have implemented a variety of workflow changes. From empowering quick problem-solving to introducing a mindful meeting culture, we've compiled 16 innovative strategies that have significantly boosted productivity in the marketing realm.
- Empower Quick Problem-Solving
- Create One-Person Departments
- Introduce Project Management Tools
- Establish Clear Accountability
- Build a Content Backlog
- Streamline Client Deliverable Management
- Implement a Priority Matrix
- Schedule Structured Brainstorming Sessions
- Use Feedback Loops
- Embrace Agile Marketing
- Adopt a Project-Management Tool
- Build an Organized Team
- Hold Strategy-Alignment Meetings
- Implement Daily Stand-Up Meetings
- Grant AI Utilization Freedom
- Introduce Mindful Meeting Culture
Empower Quick Problem-Solving
We've instituted a $250 budget to solve any problem without needing further approval from the leadership team. Anyone can, at any time, solve a problem by spending up to $250. This has allowed the customer service team and marketing team to solve problems by refunding products, overnighting missing orders, and supporting our customers so that we can deliver the best experience.
Create One-Person Departments
Sometimes it is hard to prioritize certain tasks over others because all are equally important and demanding of urgent attention. However, one lesson I have learned is that sometimes, to maximize the full potential of my team and boost efficiency, it would make sense to split everyone into individual units. Here is what I mean: Certain individuals perform better when they are solely responsible for the successful completion of assignments.
Though there are various advantages to working as a team, as marketers, I have realized that some individuals are better skilled in certain areas, and that given the opportunity to handle a task solo, increases their productivity because the back-and-forth it takes an entire team to make a decision is eliminated. This understanding has guided me in making the change necessary to improving my team's workflow; creating one-person departments within my marketing team by assigning specific tasks to the most efficient person in the team.
Introduce Project Management Tools
When I first took on the role of Marketing Manager, I noticed that our team was struggling with keeping up with our growing list of projects. Emails were flying around left, right, and center, and it was hard to keep track of who was doing what.
So, I decided to introduce a project management tool to our team—Trello. Now, I know what you're thinking: 'Another tool to learn?' But stay with me here.
Trello is a super-simple and intuitive platform. It's like a digital bulletin board where you can create different 'boards' for each project. Each 'board' has 'cards' representing tasks, and you can add team members to each card. It's a visual way to keep track of what's happening with each task, and it's a lot less overwhelming than sifting through a bunch of emails.
The difference it made was night and day. Suddenly, tasks were being completed more efficiently, and there was less confusion and miscommunication. It was easier to see what needed to be done, and who was responsible for it.
Establish Clear Accountability
As a Marketing Manager, one pivotal change that significantly improved my team's productivity was the establishment of clear accountability. Recognizing the importance of individual and collective responsibility, I implemented a system where each team member was assigned specific tasks and goals, along with clear deadlines and expectations. This approach not only clarified roles within the team but also empowered members to take ownership of their work. By knowing exactly what was expected of them and understanding the impact of their contributions on the team’s overall success, everyone became more focused and motivated. This shift toward accountability led to a noticeable increase in productivity, as tasks were completed more efficiently and with a higher standard of quality. Establishing accountability transformed our team dynamics, fostering a culture of trust, commitment, and excellence that drove our projects forward more effectively.
Build a Content Backlog
We started building a backlog. From our experience with agile marketing, we've learned that having a backlog of content or social media posts really reduces stress. This way, small delays don't turn into big problems. You usually want to keep the work-in-progress limited, but if someone gets sick, for example, others can use the backlog to keep things going.
One way we've found to build this backlog is to do a bit more in each work sprint than we need. This way, we create a backlog slowly, without making it too hard for the team at any one time. If you do this right, it means that holidays, illnesses, or other surprises don't mess up how much work your team gets done.
Streamline Client Deliverable Management
We used to have this thing where all client deliverables were lumped together in one big project called 'client deliverables' in our project management software. But I thought, why not streamline things a bit?
So, I came up with a new system: now, our account team adds projects to the client's specific project and tags them with the relevant service project—like Web Dev, SEO, or Paid Ads. This way, our department heads can easily check out the tasks for their team's area of expertise, making it super simple to prioritize tasks. And for our account team, they can hop over to the client project and see all the tasks related to that client, no matter which department is handling them. It's made client reporting and management way more efficient, and everyone's loving the change!
Implement a Priority Matrix
I implemented a priority matrix by categorizing tasks into urgent and non-urgent. With this system, team members can immediately identify high-impact activities that require immediate attention from those that can be scheduled for later completion. This strategy not only enhances time management but also allows for a more balanced workload, reducing stress and fostering a culture of productivity and efficiency within the team.
For example, urgent tasks may include meeting deadlines for important client projects or responding to urgent customer inquiries, while non-urgent tasks may involve researching new marketing trends or conducting internal team training. By clearly distinguishing between these two categories, it has become easier for my team to prioritize and allocate their time accordingly.
Schedule Structured Brainstorming Sessions
One change I made to my team's workflow that significantly improved productivity was implementing structured brainstorming sessions. Simply setting aside time for the team to come together, share ideas, and build upon each other's creativity led to an explosion of new concepts and content variations. Giving our minds the space to wander and make unexpected connections unlocked a surge of innovative directions we never would have achieved by working separately and linearly. Structured brainstorming injected a sense of play into our process and boosted team morale, all of which translated into higher-quality work and faster output. Making space for unstructured creativity was a game-changer.
Use Feedback Loops
We started using feedback loops in our team. Since then, our marketing workflow has become much more productive and efficient.
Adding these feedback loops meant everyone could share their thoughts and ideas regularly. This helped us spot problems early and fix them quickly. It also encouraged everyone to contribute, which brought out a lot of creative ideas we hadn't thought of before. We set up regular meetings where team members could give and receive feedback. This made communication much clearer and reduced misunderstandings. The team started working together better because everyone understood each other's roles and challenges more. This change really made a difference in how quickly and well we got things done.
Embrace Agile Marketing
We embraced 'Agile Marketing'—a game-changer. It allowed for rapid iteration and flexibility. Traditional approaches felt too rigid; Agile lets us adapt on the fly. We prioritize tasks weekly, breaking them down into smaller sprints. It's about being reactive without losing sight of the big picture. Productivity soared because the team could pivot quickly, capitalizing on real-time data and trends. This shift to a more dynamic workflow keeps us ahead of the curve. It's a blend of structure and creativity, crucial in the digital landscape.
Adopt a Project-Management Tool
A significant improvement I initiated in our team's workflow was the adoption of a project-management tool. From my personal journey, I've learned that centralizing tasks, deadlines, and communication within one platform enhances collaboration and productivity. By leveraging this tool, our team efficiently tracked progress, collaborated seamlessly, and maintained organization. This change minimized administrative burdens, allowing us to focus more on strategic initiatives and ensuring timely project delivery within budget constraints.
Build an Organized Team
As a marketing manager, one thing I do not like is a disorganized team—a disorganized team where each member doesn't know the project to work on or the necessary steps it takes to work on that project. Building an organized team is one of the changes I made to my team’s workflow that has significantly increased our productivity. With these changes in place, every one of my team members knows their roles and responsibilities and the necessary steps to getting their tasks done more effectively and efficiently. Also, with this change, we now have clear communication and collaboration, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and working earnestly towards the same goals. Not only did building an organized team help my team members and me have clear communication and collaboration, but it also helped increase my team’s agility and flexibility, making them adapt quickly to changes and capitalize on new opportunities without compromising the quality of our work.
Hold Strategy-Alignment Meetings
One pivotal change I made was to implement regular strategy-alignment meetings. Initially, each team operated in silos, focusing on their immediate tasks without a clear view of the broader marketing objectives. By scheduling weekly alignment meetings, we ensured that everyone understood how their work contributed to the overall marketing strategy. This not only boosted morale by giving a sense of purpose but also improved productivity as teams were able to identify overlaps and synergies in their projects, leading to a more cohesive and efficient approach to achieving our marketing goals.
Implement Daily Stand-Up Meetings
In my experience, one change that significantly improved my team's productivity was implementing a daily stand-up meeting. This short and focused meeting allowed everyone to quickly sync up on what they were working on, identify potential roadblocks, and collaborate on solutions. It also helped to keep everyone accountable and motivated to make progress each day.
For example, I worked with a team that was struggling to meet their deadlines and often had miscommunications that led to mistakes. After implementing the daily stand-up meeting, the team was able to identify and address these issues more efficiently, resulting in higher-quality work and on-time delivery of projects. The daily stand-up also allowed for a more cohesive team dynamic, as everyone was able to stay up-to-date on each other's work and offer support when needed.
Overall, implementing a daily stand-up meeting may seem like a small change, but it can have a big impact on team productivity and collaboration.
Grant AI Utilization Freedom
I cannot pinpoint one major change that has drastically increased the team's productivity. However, granting freedom to utilize AI in ethical and creative ways has indeed contributed to productivity growth. I've observed that some senior marketers remain hesitant about integrating AI into their daily tasks. Conversely, many senior management members perceive AI usage as a form of cheating by the team. Nevertheless, it's evident that providing proper flexibility and guidelines for incorporating AI into marketing activities significantly enhances productivity to a new level. At Hella Infratech, we ensure that AI is used as a catalyst and not as an alternative, which keeps our creative heads grinding but also adds a new perspective while providing quick solutions for repetitive tasks.
Introduce Mindful Meeting Culture
Introducing a "mindful meeting culture" has quietly revolutionized our team's workflow. We implemented a practice where meetings are scheduled with specific agendas, and participants are encouraged to provide input beforehand. This subtle change minimizes unproductive discussions and keeps meetings focused and concise.
The impact has been remarkable. Team members have gained more time for focused work, reducing interruptions and fostering a deeper level of concentration. The subtle shift towards mindful meetings not only improved overall productivity but also enhanced team morale by respecting everyone's time commitments.
This change, often overlooked in its subtlety, has created a more purposeful and efficient work environment, allowing the team to achieve better outcomes while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
