The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]

Always smiling. Always laughing.

They were the life and soul of every party.

But then, when I spoke to people who actually worked with this person, the response was kind of different.

The common reply was something along the lines of:

“They’re nice as a person, but working with them ….”

And there would be this pause as words they didn’t want to say out loud, were said in their silence.

What they were trying to say was the problem they had working with this person was they wanted to be popular.

Sure, we all want that to a certain extent, but this person was obsessed with it … to the point they would always give whoever they were talking to, the answer that person wanted to hear.

Never saying the word “no”.

At least to people who they felt were – or could be – important or influential to them.

And while that is fine in general – or private – conversation, it causes huge problems when it comes to making great work because different promises get made to different people which means everyone is working to different goals and expectations.

Worse, it means when shit hit the fan – which it always will – this person will constantly blame someone else for the issues rather than take responsibility for what has happened.

Of course this shouldn’t be a surprise because their focus was never really been about the work – despite what they might say in public – it was just about their personal relationships.

Look I get it … no one likes conflict.

No one likes to tell someone no, especially if you like that person.

But when you let your ego be more important than the work, everyone loses.

As I wrote before, to get to great work you’ve got to accept it will leave scars.

That doesn’t mean the teams need to work in an atmosphere of toxicity or aggression – far from it, you generally feel the joy the teams have had making great work – but it does mean the tough conversations have to be had openly and early to not just ensure expectations and standards are agreed by everyone involved, but to give the teams the space, time and safety to make work that is fearless and infectious.

Popularity seekers scare the crap out of me.

Sure, they’re nice to have a cup of tea with, but to work with them is horrific.

Not because they lack talent, but they lack integrity and like all relationships, if you can’t trust the person by your side, you can’t have a relationship that can lead to exciting and new places.

But if more evidence was needed, I’d say this.

Tough conversations may not be nice, but not only do they increase the odds of getting to great work … they build stronger trust, respect and relationship between client and agency.