• Idea-Generating Techniques for the Desperate

    June 22, 2015

    Here’s a general rule of thumb regarding idea-generation techniques: they’re clunky, dorky and time-consuming. Oh, and they don’t work. You reluctantly resort to one when you're under the gun for an idea, then end up wasting valuable time that leaves you even more frustrated and desperate and …

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  • The Crystal-Clear Winner

    June 15, 2015

    • by Emily Foster, IHAF

    Each year, numerous winners leave the IHAF Awards Show with accolades in hand. Only one team, however, walks away with the coveted, crystal Best of Show trophy—the clear stand-out among all of the work submitted that year.

    The Best of Show winner is chosen at the end of a day-long process where …

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  • Building a Creative Environment

    June 08, 2015

    When I was in third grade, my mom and I ran into my teacher (a grim, severe drill sergeant) in the cereal aisle of the grocery store. I still remember how long it took my brain to recognize Mrs. Strictman. Her face was familiar, but foreign in that environment.

    The grocery store was all joy and …

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  • Collaboration Inside & Out

    May 26, 2015

    If orange is the new black, collaboration is the new integration.

    Remember when agency integration was all the rage? Just a few years back, clients and agencies focused heavily on the importance of strategically communicating across multiple channels. While still important, integration has been …

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  • (25 Ways to) Love the One You’re With

    May 18, 2015

    • by IHAF Staff

    When 1970’s folk rocker Stephen Stills released his break-away hit single Love the One You’re With, we’re pretty sure he wasn’t talking about internal/external agency collaboration. Regardless, Stills’ lyrics are prolific calling us to live in harmony with one another, “If you can't be with the one …

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  • Lights, Camera, Collaboration!

    May 11, 2015

    Advertising is transitioning, evolving with its viewers, moving from the perspective of “I” the brand to “we” the consumers. As part of this evolution, many companies are seeking both innovation and engagement with their target audiences. Consumers want to be motivated and inspired—seeking …

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  • On the Road Again

    April 27, 2015

    • by IHAF Staff

    Every spring the IHAF team hits the road to host one of our most popular annual events—the IHAF Huddle traveling discussion group series. This year, we’re adding another stop to our upcoming travel calendar, the ANA Financial Management Conference in Phoenix, AZ on April 26-29th.

    This four-day …

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  • Let Them Lead

    April 21, 2015

    One of the keys to leading a successful organization is recruiting and nurturing new leaders within your agency. Finding and cultivating people who could give us “more legs on the stool” became one of the most gratifying achievements for my core group of senior leaders and for me personally.

    In …

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  • Leading Teams by Leading Culture

    April 13, 2015

    Every organization has a culture built on its behaviors, habits, values and, most importantly, the collective energy of the people that comprise it. In my experience, strong culture is foundationally rooted in the ability to attract and retain the right people with the right energy, the right sense …

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  • Three Keys to Leading Strong Teams

    April 06, 2015

    On paper, leading a strong in-house team is easy. All you have to do is: 1) hire the right people, 2) establish processes that enable them to work efficiently and productively, and 3) keep everyone (your team and your clients) happy. Unfortunately, doing all three is difficult.

    What’s more, even …

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