To say that two hours at Sound Lounge changed my perspective is an understatement. It taught me more about how to create a strong client-agency relationship (or professional relationship in general) than I could have imagined. Relationships fuel our industry. How people connect and engage shapes how brands live in the world, how agencies and clients work together, and how we make great work. Here are a few of my takeaways:

Understand the other person’s vision/what they want to accomplish. Understanding a problem is only half the battle. You also have to understand how they want you to solve it.

Communicate early. The more time you can give people to do great work, the better the work will be (and you’ll probably pay less for it).

Build trust. When there’s an “oh shit” moment, be the person others can count on to solve the problem. This shows investment and instantly builds trust. (Just make sure you’re not the cause of the “oh shit” moment.)

Come from a place of “yes.” You want to be seen as a team player and someone who can help great work happen. It is a complex mixture of knowing what it’ll take to get there, knowing your limits, and choosing to invest in others by being in the thick of it with them.