"Alignment is going in the same direction, fighting for the same things, and looking at the same big picture together.” – Rachel GertzThe finer details of this episode:● Importance of project management and operations in digital agencies and creative studios● Challenges in project management and the need for alignment between sales and project management● Solutions to improve communication and alignment between departments● Importance of understanding client goals and business objectives during the sales process● Concept of time in the sales process and optimizing operations for long-term efficiency● The three questions of project management: "Where are we? Where are we going? Are we okay?"● Importance of ongoing alignment, regular check-ins, and alignment exercises for client satisfaction and project successEpisode resources:● Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/● Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter● Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success, is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddcConnect with Rachel here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-gertz-trainer/Check out Louder than Ten here: https://louderthanten.comTimestamps:Welcome to the Creative Agency Success Show (00:00:00)Introduction to the podcast and anticipation of the upcoming discussion with Rachel Gertz.Insights from Rachel Gertz's Interview (00:00:14)Discussion about the valuable tips and insights shared by Rachel Gertz in the podcast episode.Improving Client Onboarding Process (00:00:36)The importance of implementing new client onboarding strategies and the potential impact on client efficiency and improvements.Implementing Advice from Rachel Gertz (00:01:11)Encouragement to implement the advice shared by Rachel Gertz and the anticipation of positive outcomes from the episode.Introduction of Rachel Gertz and Hannah (00:02:10)Introduction of Rachel Gertz as the guest and Hannah as the special guest host for the episode.Rachel Gertz's Background and Passion (00:02:35)Insight into Rachel Gertz's background, passion for project management, and the focus of Louder Than Ten.Rachel Gertz's Transition to Project Management (00:03:15)Rachel Gertz's transition to project management, her background in teaching and education, and her passion for the softer side of project management.Common Ailments in Project Management (00:05:14)Identification of common challenges in project management and the impact of misalignment between sales and project management.Improving Communication Between Departments (00:06:50)The significance of communication between departments and the need for solutions to ensure effective communication among all departments.Sales Process and Project Management Handover (00:07:43)The impact of rushed sales processes and the importance of aligning project goals with business goals for successful project delivery.Optimizing Sales Process (00:09:00)Strategies for optimizing the sales process, including vetting criteria, involving subject matter experts, and aligning project goals with business goals.Project Management Alignment Exercise (00:15:36)Recommendation to use a client fit matrix for alignment exercises and the importance of regular check-ins to maintain alignment throughout the project.Weekly Team Check-Ins (00:17:57)Flexible approaches for weekly team check-ins, including the format, cadence, and the incorporation of project-related health questions.Guiding Conversations and Asking the Right Questions (00:19:33)The importance of framing questions to guide conversations and ensure the right answers during check-in meetings.Each topic title is followed by the starting time of the segment in the podcast episode.Project Management and Change Management (00:19:48)Discussion about handling changes in project scope, involving project managers, account managers, and sales.Flexibility in Project Scoping (00:21:46)Exploring the idea of designing projects with flexibility and adaptability, and the impact on pricing and project direction.Believability and Billability of Project Management (00:24:19)Addressing the struggle of getting project managers and account managers billable, and their role in the project's success.Post Project Evaluation and Continuous Improvement (00:26:28)Importance and process of post-project evaluation, including setting a window for project closure and conducting lessons learned sessions.Favorite Concerts (00:32:38)Casual discussion about the hosts' favorite concerts and musical interests.Final Thoughts and Contact Information (00:35:28)Guest's final thoughts on project management, operations, and the importance of slowing down, and sharing contact information for further resources and ...
