At a glance, most creative leaders say they’re satisfied with how their teams are functioning. But look a little deeper, and you’ll find a very different story: teams are overextended, creative energy is running low, and great work is becoming harder to produce.
At DolFinContent, we wanted to understand what’s really going on behind the scenes. So we spoke to over 200 creative leaders—across tech, fashion, publishing, and professional services—to find out what’s working, what’s not, and where creative departments go from here.
Here’s what we learned.
Burnout Is Quietly Everywhere
While nearly every leader we spoke to expressed confidence in their team’s performance, the overwhelming majority also admitted they’re exhausted—and their teams are too.
- 76% of creative professionals said they felt burned out in the past year
- 78% believe their team can’t keep up with growing demands
- 73% say work is getting done—but great work is getting left behind
As DolFinContent CEO Eliott Wahba put it:
“We’ve normalized burnout as part of the job. But exhaustion is not a badge of honor—it’s a signal that something needs to change.”
—Eliott Wahba, CEO of DolFinContent
Staffing Is... Inconsistent at Best
The answer to "Do we have enough people?" varies depending on who you ask.
Veteran leaders are more likely to call out under-resourcing for what it is. Meanwhile, newer managers often accept long hours and stretched bandwidth as part of the role.
- 48% of creative leaders with 10+ years experience say their team is significantly understaffed
- Only 32% of newer managers say the same
- Less-experienced creatives were more likely to say they were staffed “just right,” even while workloads were steadily increasing
The gap here isn’t just in numbers—it’s in expectations. And that’s a risk.
There’s Plenty of Talent—But Not Enough Time
Most teams feel confident in their creative skill set. The problem? The to-do list keeps growing, and the time for creative thinking keeps shrinking.
- 79% say they want to produce more impactful work
- 77% said administrative and repetitive tasks are blocking creative output
- 85% admitted they spend more time managing projects than executing them
At DolFinContent, we've seen clients spend weeks on internal approvals for tasks that should take a day. Time isn’t just a scheduling issue—it’s a creative one.
“You can’t create brilliant work when you're buried in briefs, feedback loops, and file management. Creativity needs margin to thrive.”
—Eliott Wahba
Outsourcing Isn’t a Cure-All
Many leaders turn to external partners when things get overwhelming—but outsourcing isn’t always the silver bullet it promises to be.
- 52% of creative leads say they outsource regularly
- 85% admit they struggle with finding reliable creative partners
- 41% rely on just one agency—and only 13% say that partnership is performing well
We heard countless stories about agencies missing the mark, offloading junior teams, or requiring so much hand-holding that it felt easier to just do the work in-house.
The lesson? Scaling your creative output means finding the right partners—not just any partner.
AI Is Shifting the Game (But Human Thinking Still Wins)
There’s no question that AI has arrived—and most creative leaders see it as a tool for acceleration, not replacement.
- 96% believe AI can significantly speed up creative production
- 93% believe it will also improve quality over time
- 89% say their C-suite is actively exploring AI integration into marketing workflows
What’s next? Learning how to use it intentionally.
“AI can take care of the tasks that drain us—but it can’t replace creative instincts, human insight, or cultural relevance.”
—Eliott Wahba
At DolFinContent, we use AI to speed up asset production, unlock trend insights, and stress-test messaging—but every idea still starts with human perspective.
The Path Forward? Do Less—and Do It With Purpose
Creative teams are operating in a state of overcommitment by default. New platforms, new formats, and emerging technologies make it easy to chase everything—while focusing on nothing.
But the best teams are pushing back. They’re:
- Prioritizing fewer, higher-impact campaigns
- Streamlining processes
- Automating the low-lift tasks
- Delegating or outsourcing with strategic intent
“Creativity has always been about solving problems with elegance and meaning. That doesn’t change. But the way we protect space for that work must evolve.”
—Eliott Wahba
You don’t need more checklists. You need more clarity.
And if your team is ready to rethink what creative excellence looks like today, we’re here to help you build it—smarter, sharper, and more sustainable. Let’s Chat
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