How Can Creative Professionals Be Better Managers - Doug Jaeger

In Chapter 5 of 12 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, designer Doug Jaeger shares the conflict inherent developing management skills in a creative profession. It comes down to using effective communication to create a sharing and collaboration focused culture. Jaeger has found creative training approaches, especially the individual responsibility around making something, are often independent from team learning and experiences. This training encourages creatives to take full responsibility and to not let go of it for an entire project. This mindset contrasts with a business or management environment where collaboration and sharing is key. This is exemplified in advertising agency environments that have arts, account management, and media buying and strategy groups. Jaeger is a partner at design firm JaegerSloan - http://jaegersloan.com/ - and is also president of the Art Director's Club - http://www.adcglobal.org/ . Previously he founded thehappycorp and has served in creative director leadership roles at TBWA/Chiat/Day and JWT. Jaeger holds a BFA in Computer Graphics and Art Media Studies from Syracuse University.