I am uncoachable!
- Started
- Last post
- 40 Responses
- epigraph
I have been told by my AD that I am "difficult to coach" i.e. I can't take direction or criticism.
To me, if I think think my design choice is better than yours, I am going to explain why, and ask you to do the same.
I know I need to learn to get along, so how does everyone else do it? Is it just a swallow your pride thing?
- imnotadesigner0
What the hell are you talking about? Im never wrong!
- capsize0
take the money and run
- gramme0
Yes. Didn't come naturally to me either. It's not about being right all the time. There are ways to humbly make other suggestions to your AD.
Chances are, your AD is a better designer than you. If you can honestly say this is not the case, then quit, post haste.
- flavorful0
It's called not being a whiny bitch when things don't go the way you planned or envisioned.
- thats rightimnotadesigner
- YES! Thank you Flavorful!!!!SoupCan
- CALLES0
freelance
- flashbender0
if it makes you feel better I have been described as an arrogant perfectionist.
Depending on where the criticism is coming from, yeah, sometimes you just have to swallow your pride and say "Sure thing."
Also I was told by a director that sometimes the difference between "good" and "good enough" isn't enough to worry about
- I hear you on that...pick your battlesepigraph
- for the record I am neither arrogant or a perfectionist - I am confident with an attention to detail.flashbender
- CALLES0
not all designers can work under someone
- epigraph0
I am working freelance(inhouse) right now mostly forthe money and experience....I honestly feel that the changes she makes will look horrible in my portfolio
- don't put it in your portfoliokupia
- she is obviously working with the client in mind and you're thinking of your foliojosimar
- yep what you said josimarepigraph
- haha, and you see nothing WRONG with that?!?!?!? erm, the CLIENT COMES FIRST!!!!!!josimar
- if your design decisions are based upon what will look good in your folio maybe you could learn something from the AD...put your ego aside.monkeyshine
- no I was agreeing with you. you changed my viewpoint...epigraph
- AD. Put your ego aside and perhaps you'll surprise yourself by what you learn.monkeyshine
- fair enough! :)josimar
- save a copy before you make the changes and put that in your port. and yes, client comes before portfolio, every time.sintaxera
- kupia0
your AD is giving you direction because he/she is telling you what they want from you. if you don't want to take the direction then that will make them think negatively about you. when they criticize they're saying what they want changed to make them happy.
make AD happy=raise and/or career advancement
make AD unhappy=...unemployment?
it's the same in every job that you have to work for someone else and you're not the boss. no matter what you do.
it's ok to say 'I think there might be a better way" once in a while but pick your battles.
- spendogg0
I had a difficult designer once who would only take direction well if she could execute. If she couldn't she would come up with every excuse in the book not to do it.
There are many was to do things, just make sure you are not being an A-hole about it.
- flavorful0
If you're uncoachable you're basically worthless.
- is this a serious comment?epigraph
- aye.... Mon, then7point34
- Yes. That was me being serious. I'd fire you on the spot if I thought you weren't coachable, or didn't want to be coached.flavorful
- coached. I'm here to tell you ... yes your shit does stink.flavorful
- shouldn't you be taking out the trash Jerome?spendogg
- I like you too Flavorful.
I likes the way you think =)kupia - man flavorful, I bet you take criticism worse than anyone here...talk about shit not stinking!epigraph
- I am the most succesful garbageman in the history of garbagemen MY VOICE WILL BE HEARD!!!flavorful
- Wow ... way to spin that one, haha. You really got me!flavorful
- Jerome = hockey fan ;)Jaline
- dskz0
BAH your like JR Rider.
- CALLES0
are you one of those Moby cocky arrogant full of the latest gadget that walk around like your shit dont stink
*punches epigraph in the eye glasses
- yeah, just cuz you have emo glasses doesn't mean you are good at stuffspendogg
- no... my cell phone is 6 years old and can't take pictures =)epigraph
- RIGHT IN THE FUCKING EYE GLASSES!!!flavorful
- hahaha damn it, I wanted that to be the first note.flavorful
- excellent question.
I like you, CALLES.
kupia - thanks!CALLES
- A whole new found respect for calles.SoupCan
- imnotadesigner0
Ive been doing this for 8 years now, some of you have more of experience others have less but all I have to say is you have to choose your battles. If you dont, no one will take you serious.
Also, take what your AD is saying, absorb it, and think before you speak.
- dskz0
When Jordan hogged the ball, they didnt win championships.
- epigraph0
Well thanks for all of your advice, but I think mine is better!
- your probably rightdskz
- so why'd you post? If I was your AD I'd cuff you on the back of the neck... Kid now adays...imnotadesigner
- nice, wanna be my art director?epigraph
- Nah... I have enough whiners to babysit ;)imnotadesigner
- mrdobolina0
remember the chain of command and who signs your checks in these situations. yours may very well be better but is it worth it?
- SoupCan0
Your not coachable means your not listening... part of being a good designer is listening. You need to learn to be a "there you are" person for a while instead of a "here I am" person. get the facts (you don't have to agree) however they will help you to solve the design problem. You have to be able to bend. and when you do, do it gracefully and come back with what they are asking for but better.
- flavorful0
How To Take Criticism 101:
- Act like you care what the other person is saying.
- Take one of their points and simply repeat aloud to yourself in kind of a introspective manner.
- All the while in your head thinking how fucking stupid the person is and how you haven't yet reached a level in your career that constitutes you not being criticized (for the record ... you're never going to get to that level ... ever).After awhile it becomes second nature and you're numb to it.
- CodenameAM0
kupia that a silly way of looking at working with or for an AD or CD.
Point 1, you are there to do a good, and the AD wants to get the best out of you, and wants to point you in the right direction for the client and the end result. At the end of the day if you don't agree with the AD, you can make you point heard, but don't act like a child, remember this piece of work is for a client and not your folio!
If you are always questioning your AD responses then maybe after the project sit down with him/her and go through your views and find out way these were not chosen.
Design is all about choice and maybe on this case the AD has a better understanding of the client and the projects, hence why he/she is an AD.