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With a 6-On, 2-Off Workflow, Your Agency Can Start Being More Proactive and Creative

Traditionally, agency culture is rapid and reactionary. This can make agency owners and employees feel like their organizations are nimble and agile. However, that sense of flexibility is often an illusion. Constantly scrambling to put out fires means clients have all the power, creatives don’t have the time to do their best work, and no one can enjoy a more balanced life. 

How did agencies get to this point? The desire to be “on” 24/7 for clients comes from good intentions. The conventional idea is that the more productive an agency can be, the more results it can get for clients. Better, faster results mean more work and referrals. Yet, the risk of burning out five-star employees — practically impossible to quickly replace in today’s labor market — is all too real. 

So, what’s the secret to keeping a breakneck pace? Some agencies are moving past the pedal-to-the-metal mindset and opting for a six-week on, two-week breather work cycle. 

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6 On + 2 Off = More Effectiveness and Innovation 

Working in six-week cycles followed by two weeks of planning allows you to break down your year more reliably. During the six-week window, you and your team should complete all client work for the period. Instead of cramming in jobs as needed, plan your six-week period thoughtfully to allow you enough time to complete your work. At the end of each six weeks, you and your teams regroup for two weeks and map out the next six weeks. 

The primary benefit of the six-on, two-off schedule is that it allows you to stop the endless stress that comes with unfettered speed. The two-week buffer serves as a sort of “pause button” so that you can focus on catching up and emergency tasks. Your creators want to create, and allowing them the space they deserve to produce excellent work gives a sense of transparency throughout your agency. In this model, everyone knows where they are in the week cycle and what they need to accomplish. 

You might wonder how your clients will react; the truth is, they don’t need to have an inside peek into your workflows. The six-week cycle can be a behind-the-scenes process. For instance, you might say, “We can deliver the final product in two months.” Your client doesn’t need to know how the work is arranged within those two months. 

Slowing Down for the Sake of Work-Life Balance and Awesome Work

Agency life might involve diverse projects, but those projects don’t have to be done in a hectic way. Slowing down on a planned schedule bakes in the opportunity for everyone to be a little more proactive. It might be surprising, but putting all major work into a structured six-week container gives your team more room to move. This model also makes it easier for employees to block off work throughout their days to ensure they get the personal time needed to maintain a healthy work-life balance. 

It’s commendable to want to work faster and better than your competitors do, but just be cautious about the impact on your culture and team. Experimenting with six-week work blocks might seem unusual at first. Still, building in two-week cushions puts an end to the rush and frees you to have better conversations with clients and your internal team. You’ll still maintain your client kickoffs, routine check-ins, and cycle closes. But you won’t worry much when these events come along because you’ll have gotten off the “everything’s last-minute” train. Whew.

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