• Subscribe
  • Newsletter
  • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Login
Campus Rec Magazine
  • Sections
    • Facility Development
    • News
    • Operations
    • Programming
    • Rec of the Month
    • Staff Development
    • Well-being
    • Profiles
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletter
    • Contact Us
  • Columns
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
  • Podcast
  • Webinars
  • Education
    • CR Leadership Summit
    • Campus Rec Mastermind Groups
No Result
View All Result
  • Sections
    • Facility Development
    • News
    • Operations
    • Programming
    • Rec of the Month
    • Staff Development
    • Well-being
    • Profiles
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletter
    • Contact Us
  • Columns
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
  • Podcast
  • Webinars
  • Education
    • CR Leadership Summit
    • Campus Rec Mastermind Groups
No Result
View All Result
Campus Rec Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home Columns

Why You Need a Critical Eye

Heather Hartmann by Heather Hartmann
November 14, 2018
in Columns, News
0
critical eye
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedIn

Sometimes, you have to get critical, which is exactly what Peake Media’s editorial and creative teams did last week

We had decided our digital platforms and functions needed a critical eye. So, we spent one day in Lexington, Kentucky, to hash out things we weren’t doing so great.

It can be hard to look at your own work and be honest. It can be hard to hear other people’s issues they’ve been having with stuff you’re doing. However, I can’t even begin to share with you how beneficial it was for everyone involved. We had some serious kinks in our systems and communication that needed to be addressed. Perhaps the thing I am most impressed with after leaving that meeting is the implementation we’ve been able to do in just a weeks time on three of the largest challenges:

1. Lack of Communication

The editorial and creative teams don’t work in the same office. We communicate via a chat app called Slack. But, virtual communication doesn’t always go well. Things can get misconstrued easily. Plus, we aren’t building relationships that way. We’re just connecting when we need something. Realizing this, we implemented a weekly video meeting. Just for 10 minutes, the whole team gets together to chat and address what we’re each working on this week. The idea is to give everyone an idea of where they are workwise, as well as connect on a more human level. Monday was our first go and I think it was successful.

2. Systems, Systems, Systems

We’ve been saying it for years, but this is something we lack. Systems are hard when you’re a small team with everyone doing everything. However, as we’ve grown and gained manpower, we’re at a point where operation processes can be addressed. The one we decided to hit hard was social media. My editor-in-chief dove in head first after the meeting and already drafted a calendar template. We met on Monday as well to begin taking steps to get more organized. Social media is a weak spot for our company and its brands as a whole. We’re hoping to fix that by planning ahead and getting organized. I have a really good feeling about it.

3. Getting Rid of Inefficiencies

On both teams, we had grievances with either how the websites worked or how the editorial team was overstepping creative boundaries. For instance, when we put together eblasts, you have the choice of using the template or working off an email you make last week. However, unbeknownst to the editorial team, the second option – which is the one we often chose – wound up causing the look of the emails to change overtime, no longer being what creative had designed them to be. So, as an editorial team we will be using the templates every time from now on. If it’s one way we can keep our brands looking nice – and helping creative – I’m up for it.

All in all, I’ve been excited about what came out of our meeting. There were several excellent ideas that will help us be better brands and serve our audiences better. We have to continue to grow and learn just like the audiences we cater to, otherwise we are hypocritical. It’s going to be a lot of work, and I’m sure we’ll find more kinks, but we can only go up from here.

How can you evaluate your systems and processes today with a critical eye?

Tags: campus reccampus recreationcommunicationcritical eyefeaturedprocessessystemsteam work
Previous Post

The Weightlifting Gender Discrepancy Study — Part Two

Next Post

Utilizing Your Campus to Improve Competencies

Heather Hartmann

Heather Hartmann

Heather Hartmann is the editor for Campus Rec Magazine. She can be reached at heather@peakemedia.com.

Related Posts

Cultivating Connections
Leadership

Cultivating Connections and Building Relationships in Your Field

August 9, 2022
Rec Nights
Programming

Themed Open Rec Nights Assist Engagement and Recruitment

August 2, 2022
Keep Swinging
Staff Development

The “Keep Swinging” Mindset at The College of New Jersey

July 26, 2022
2023 Summit moderator
News

Jorge Juarez: The 2023 Summit Moderator

July 22, 2022
Positive Lifestyles
Leadership

How Campus Rec Fosters Positive Lifestyles

July 19, 2022
More Than a Gym
Leadership

Three Ways Campus Rec is More Than a Gym

July 12, 2022
Next Post
improve competencies

Utilizing Your Campus to Improve Competencies

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn
Campus Rec Magazine

The premier business resource for college and university recreation centers.

The Current Issue

July/August 2022 Issue

July/August 2022

Browse

  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletter
  • Podcast
  • Media Kit
  • Contact

© 2022 Campus Rec Magazine. Published by Peake Media.

No Result
View All Result
  • Sections
    • Facility Development
    • News
    • Operations
    • Programming
    • Rec of the Month
    • Staff Development
    • Well-being
    • Profiles
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletter
    • Contact Us
  • Columns
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
  • Podcast
  • Webinars
  • Education
    • CR Leadership Summit
    • Campus Rec Mastermind Groups

© 2022 Campus Rec Magazine. Published by Peake Media.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
[adrotate group="26"]
<div class="g g-26"><div class="g-single a-425"><a class="gofollow" data-track="NDI1LDI2LDEsNjA=" href="https://www.usarchery.org/participate/collegiate" target="_blank"><img src="https://campusrecmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/USA-Archery-CR-August-Before-You-Go-Banner-copy.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a></div></div>
[adrotate group="25"]
<div class="g g-25"><div class="g-single a-424"><a class="gofollow" data-track="NDI0LDI1LDEsNjA=" href="https://www.fawleybryant.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://campusrecmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/FAW-21011-Web-Banner-640x480-D1.gif" width="640" height="480"/></a></div></div>