Firmly Stated

So I never followed up on that creative brief I was writing...and that's because it was basically taken out of my hands. Nope, not a good feeling.

That whole experience was not so great. Let's recap: 1) I took it to Account Services and they ripped it up (a bit of a blow to the ego), 2) I revised, refined, and we presented to the client - the client meeting was brutal (I got stared down for not defending some research which we didn't use in developing the brief, then the client didn't like our direction - ouch), 3) I looked back at the research to define the client's position and our position; then set up a meeting with AS to go over those changes (and waited, and waited, and waited), and 4) oh, and did I mention this was my first brief-writing experience at the agency? Blah.

After some time I knew something was fishy and found out that AS had sent some briefs (multiple, plural!!) to the client. I was really thrown off by that one - AS sent, I didn't write, more than one??

So I talked to my supervisor about it and felt hopeful that there would be a change. But I never really heard back. I didn't know if any discussion had occurred and I still didn't have the creative brief(s). Then some other small things happened with my AS team that led me to need to talk to them, and that talk was today.

I didn't want to seem angry, but I was frustrated. And I want to work well with this team moving forward which is why it was important to put my foot down a bit and ask what was up. I felt firm but still very open.

Know how those small victories can really be a big thing for you personally? Well I felt that way. I felt like a made a giant leap for me and my opportunities going forward. I feel like I am on the same page as my AS team now and will be included in much more work on a client that I should have been taking over for months now. Unfortunately, I feel like I'm at the beginning of it all but I'd rather be actually starting now than just thinking it will happen.

I kind of thought the whole thing was silly. Why am I having to take the time to convince my AS team to use me? Why am I making sure everyone knows that I'm their planner instead of my supervisor making it clearly known? Communication in a communications company - a novel concept?

Despite my tone, it really was a feeling of being settled and accepted. This experience working for a specific client consistently is crucial for me to move along into plannerdom. I enjoy immensely working for every client in the agency, but it's time for a little focus.