The Hidden Cost of “It’s Not That Urgent”
Let’s get one thing straight: marketing isn’t surgery. There are no scalpels. No life-or-death calls. But when you ignore process, miss deadlines, or delay feedback because “it’s not that serious,” you do end up hurting people—your teammates, your timeline, your ability to deliver quality work without burning out.
It’s not catastrophic. But it is cumulative. That one late approval? Someone else works through lunch. That skipped brief? A designer spends hours guessing what you meant. That “quick revision”? It derails a plan someone carefully mapped out.
So no, it’s not an emergency. But it is a problem. Because when you take your time, someone else loses theirs.
Here’s What Happens When One Person Drifts Outside the Process:
The copywriter has to write in half the time
The designer has to rush and compromise their creativity
The project manager pulls a late night pulling the final threads together
The strategy gets watered down and often useless
The launch gets delayed—or worse, half-baked
One missed deadline snowballs into ten new problems. Not because people aren’t doing their best, but because there’s no clear system holding it all together.
Why This Happens
No one’s trying to cause chaos. Most of the time, people just:
Underestimate how long things take
Are taking on too much and not asking for help
Don’t realize how their delay affects the next step
Or simply haven’t seen a process that actually works
It’s not sabotage. It’s just drift. And over time, it drains your team’s time, trust, and energy.
Let’s Talk Solutions
If your team is stuck in constant scramble mode, here’s how to shift from rushed to reliable:
Build a Real Timeline (and Stick to It): Set realistic timelines with clear handoffs. Not vague due dates—actual checkpoints. Show everyone where their piece fits and who’s waiting on them. Miss a deadline? We adjust. But the impact is visible and acknowledged.
Add Buffers, Not Stress: Make space for reviews. Give heads-ups before tasks land. Don’t rely on heroics to meet every deadline. It’s a team, not a triage unit.
Centralize Everything: No more feedback in five places. No more “Where’s that final file?” chaos. Put assets, deadlines, and responsibilities in one place. The clearer the workflow, the smoother the work.
Be Clear About Boundaries: “This is due Thursday by 3 p.m.” is clear. “Send it when you can” is a recipe for missed deadlines. You’re not being rigid—you’re being respectful. Of people’s time. Of the process. Of the project.
Structure Isn’t Boring—It’s a Gift
Let’s reframe this: Process isn’t about being strict. It’s about being supportive. When expectations are clear, workflows are streamlined, and people actually stick to the plan, everyone can do their best work—without the burnout, confusion, or late-night scramble.
And no, it’s not “just marketing.” It’s the reputation, revenue, and rhythm of your business. So yes, it matters.
TLDR
Marketing doesn’t need to feel chaotic. But if your team is constantly improvising, overworking, or rushing toward deadlines, what you need isn’t more speed. It’s more structure. Skipping timelines, ghosting approvals, and bypassing process might feel harmless in the moment—but it creates real ripple effects.
The good news? It’s fixable. At Mise En Place Co, we help creative and marketing teams get organized, aligned, and calm again. We build systems that protect your people, your timeline, and your results.
Ready to work smarter and a whole lot smoother? Let’s talk.
