The Impact, the Importance, the Implications – of clear and effective communication in the vendor/client relationship for project management! How do you get the most out of your creative agency partner?
When managing projects between vendors and clients, effective communication isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the backbone of success. Without it – your project is just, well, a gelatinous mess.
Here are the key factors that can make or break a successful outcome or hitting a critical deadline. I want to talk to you about Clarity, Consistency, Transparency, and Adaptability. It’s not an alliteration, I’m sorry. I’m losing my edge.
First, clarity is everything. Be crystal clear about project goals, timelines, and expectations from day one (really, from day negative 30 as the project is being scoped out). “Are we clear? … Crystal.” Create a decision tree that lets everyone see where we’ve come from and where we’re going. Revisit that creative brief (we talked about it previously), often, and treat it as a living, evolving roadmap of sorts. As our Creative Director, Christina Melito has said, “Don’t let anyone lose the thread.” Misunderstandings cost time and money.
Next, consistency is key. Regular check-ins keep everyone on the same page and allow for quick adjustments when they’re needed. Think of these as your project’s pulse check—skip them, and you risk missing critical issues. Or, continuing with the pulse analogy, you really want to know fast if the project is experiencing a negative cardiac event.
Next, a word that gets thrown around too much these days without actually practicing it: Don’t forget transparency. Client and agency–share both good news and setbacks openly. If there’s a delay, communicate it early. If the client is causing a delay, let them know the impact on the final delivery date. Clients appreciate honesty, and it builds trust.
Finally, adaptability is a lens you should practice seeing all of this through. Projects evolve, and so should your communication strategy. Figure out what works for both teams. Stay flexible and adjust your approach as needed to keep things on track.
Clients, in addition to providing consolidated feedback on the work itself, give feedback on the process, AND (this is rare but so helpful) ask your agency partner how YOU’RE doing. “Are we being a good client? Are we making decisions?” After all, we’re both chasing the same outcome – the best work we can possibly do together.
Remember, effective communication isn’t just about talking—it’s about talking about the right things and ensuring everyone is aligned, informed, and ready to move forward together. That’s how you turn a good project into a great one.