As a creative leader I’m expected to be confident. I have to be. It’s one thing to design or direct a beautifully crafted piece of creative but it’s a whole other beast convincing, or selling if you will, this solution to a completely subjective audience at times. This is where the confidence comes in…but confidence can quickly turn into cockiness if not careful…it’s a fine line to walk.
I remember having a conversation about this topic with a client years ago. We were having lunch after a design presentation, it was a successful one if I remember correctly or at least I’ll pretend it was ☺, and my client remarked that I had a way of presenting the work confidently and respectfully.
During the presentation I recommended the best strategic solution we the agency believed it, defended the work to their pushbacks, and was patient answering every single one of their questions. I didn’t force anything upon them that they didn’t want, didn’t belittle any of their comments, and the conversation about the work was completely objective and solely focused on picking a creative solution that would help the brand grow.
And all along I made sure our stance, the agency’s, was still being voiced and considered.
None of the above is not to say I’ve always behaved in this fashion. I’ve had off days and bad presentations where I’ve become impatient or frustrated with the response or the brief we had been given. I’m absolutely positive in the past I’ve resorted to brute force cockiness to try and persuade a client to my liking and if they still weren’t convinced of my recommendation – I pouted. Privately of course. And I didn’t feel good about it.
So what’s the difference between being supremely confident and being a pretentious snotty creative director who thinks they’re smarter and better than everyone else in the room?
Confidence and cockiness are two traits that can be difficult to distinguish from one another. On the surface, they may seem similar, but they have very different underlying motivations and consequences.
The confident lion creative director. Image created with Stable Diffusion.
Confidence is a positive trait that allows an individual to trust their abilities, set and achieve goals, and take calculated risks. Calculated risks is the key here. It is rooted in a belief in oneself and is often coupled with a willingness to learn and grow. Confidence allows a person to take on challenges and perform at their best.
The overly arrogant peacock creative director, don't be this. Image created with Stable Diffusion.
Cockiness is characterized by an excessive sense of self-importance and a belief that one is superior to others. It often stems from a need to overcompensate for feelings of insecurity or a lack of self-worth. Cockiness is often coupled with an unwillingness to listen to others or consider alternative perspectives.
The fine line between being confident and cocky is often determined by the individual's intentions and actions.
Someone who is truly confident will listen to others, acknowledge their own limitations, and celebrate the successes of those around them.
Someone who is cocky will try to undermine others and excessively talk about their own accomplishments. Yikes.
Those last two paragraphs above are really the center point for the difference. Is your creative director and/or agency really in it for your brand’s success or their own?
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