Balancing Demands in Advertising
Part 2: Building Healthier Cultures
While systemic change takes time, individuals and organizations can adopt strategies to mitigate the impact of toxic work environments and foster a healthier culture.
Coping Mechanisms for Individuals
Set Boundaries: Communicate clearly about your capacity and push back respectfully when demands exceed what’s feasible.
Prioritize Self-Care: Recognize the importance of rest, exercise, and mental health to sustain your well-being.
Find Allies: Lean on teammates for support, and create a sense of camaraderie to lighten the load.
Reframe Perspective: Focus on what you can control and celebrate small wins amid the chaos.
Seek Professional Development: Investing in your growth can help you prepare for better opportunities in the future.
Creating Organizational Change
Meaningful change requires organizations to step up. Here are ways agencies can foster a healthier culture:
Reset Expectations with Clients:
Establish boundaries early in client relationships by setting realistic timelines and deliverables.
Educate clients about the creative process to build understanding and trust.
Advocate for Partnership, Not Subservience:
Shift the dynamic with clients from “order-taker” to strategic partner, emphasizing collaboration and mutual respect.
Proactively present alternative solutions when demands seem unreasonable.
Empower Teams:
Provide teams with resources, tools, and time to do their best work.
Recognize and reward efforts to reinforce a positive culture.
Normalize Flexibility:
Implement policies that encourage work-life balance, such as no-meeting blocks, mental health days, and remote work options.
Encourage leaders to model healthy behaviors, like leaving on time and taking breaks.
Encourage Open Communication:
Create channels for employees to provide feedback without fear of retaliation.
Actively listen to employee concerns and act on them promptly.
Ending on a Hopeful Note
While the high-stakes world of advertising may never lose its intensity, it doesn’t have to remain toxic. By addressing the root causes of overwork and unrealistic demands, agencies can transform into spaces where creativity thrives, teams feel supported, and client relationships are healthier.
Change starts with small steps: resetting expectations, prioritizing well-being, and fostering trust. When agencies commit to building a better environment, the results aren’t just healthier employees—they’re happier clients and more impactful work. It’s time for the industry to embrace a future where the pursuit of excellence doesn’t come at the cost of its people.