Should teams really prioritise team creative capacity?
Contrary to popular belief, the best teams never perform at 100% due to the inherent complexities of decision-making and the need to prioritise creative capacity management.
I will take a deep dive into the exact strategies teams actually use, both consciously and subconsciously, to protect their creative capacity.
When the demand of work in a creative field is more than what is sustainably possible by a team, burnout silently creeps in.
In many creative, event, and professional service teams, operating at full capacity is often praised, mistaken for productivity. In reality, this means that teams are at full capacity, which is the fastest way to diminish creativity, performance, and lead to poor decision-making.
Teams that deliver high-quality, consistently scale faster, and retain talent along the way.
Because they understand creative capacity.
What does creative capacity mean?
Creative capacity is the limit of high-quality thinking you can make compounded over time that does not interfere with profits, service delivery, or team well-being.
It is about the amount of mental load teams can carry.
The truth is, teams are well over capacity before the symptoms of burnout appear.
Burnout is the result. Capacity loss happens first.
1. The 80% rule strategy
The best teams work at a workload of around 80%. One thing they know never to do is work at 100% capacity.
Why?
What happens when the scope changes, mistakes happen, urgent tasks are missed on task lists, they need this remaing 20% absorbtion. They prioritise efficiency.
2. The invisible load tracking strategy
Teams always track tasks, time, and deadlines, but never track what drains capacity, such as:
- chasing approvals
- being the calm for anxious clients
- system switching (the number of tools used to complete a project or event)
- fixing preventable scenarios
The best teams use systems to reduce cognitive load by using fewer tools, providing clear ownership, and having structured workflows to make clear decisions for teams.
3. The “less decision-making” strategy
Time spent on unnecessary decisions chips away at your capacity and creative work.
At Wedo Planner we adopt the Eisenhower framework into our architecture that streamlines workflows and eliminates unnecessary choices so teams can stay focused and allocate resources more efficiently.
The teams that optimise workflows, utilise templates, and clearly define scopes, win.
They rely on systems, just like Wedo Planner that protects their focus.
4. Capacity as a system strategy
Great teams always navigate these areas seamlessly:
- workload allocation
- scope creep
- unclear priorities
- friction with handoff
Utilising structured systems and clearly defined scopes allows teams to harness their creative potential, ultimately leading to greater success.
Understanding your capacity
Instead of guessing your capacity, why not measure it?
To better understand and optimise capacity, teams can utilise tools like our Creative Capacity Calculator, which provides insights into where resources are being utilised.
The Creative Capacity Calculator, is a short questionnaire designed to show you where your capacity is being spent. By taking the time to assess your creative capacity, you can uncover insights that allow for better decision-making and resource management, thus enhancing overall performance.
Take the creative capacity calculator today to see your true business standing. By having an understanding of where your efforts are concentrated you can streamline processes and focus on high-impact projects that drive results.
