Over the last week, we’ve been listening closely to what creatives have to say about your approval processes. And the message is clear: red tape is choking creativity

Every time an idea gets stuck in endless approval cycles, or is stripped of its originality to “play safe,” something is lost. We’ve seen it firsthand. We’ve heard it in the whispers from your own audience. “This feels generic,” “Haven’t we seen this before?” 

Campaigns that should have sparked conversation ended up fading into the background because the real magic was muted before it ever left the boardroom.

What your audience is really saying

Feedback doesn’t lie. When people engage less, scroll past faster, or think “meh,” it’s not because the product isn’t good. It’s because the story never reached them. They didn’t feel the boldness, the spark, the human truth behind it. That hurts everyone: your brand, your team, and the creatives who wanted to give you more.

The Hard Truth

When you silence creativity with red tape, you silence your own chance to stand out. In today’s world, blending in is the real risk.

So here’s our open letter to you:

• Trust the people you’ve brought on board.

• Recognize that trends have an expiration date.

• Value the originality that makes your brand stand out.

Our Reflection at Thompsn Forge

At Thompson Forge, we understand why approvals exist. Structure and accountability matter. But we also see the toll it takes on creativity when process outweighs purpose.

Our role, as we see it, is to bridge that gap.

We don’t just “manage” approvals, we translate them. We protect your boldness while making sure every campaign still clears the right hurdles. That means your teams still get the bold, timely ideas they need, while your organization gets the assurance of structure and alignment.

Creativity doesn’t have to die in the process. It just needs a partner who knows how to protect it.

Signed,
The Creatives You’ve Been Silencing
(with Thompsn Forge by their side)