"Alignment is going in the same direction, fighting for the same things, and looking at the same big picture together.” – Rachel Gertz

The 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 success

Episode resources:

●       Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/

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●       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/ddc

Timestamps:

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 support.