Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Agency Culture, Attitude & Aptitude, Authenticity, Confidence, Creativity, Culture, Insight, Management, Marketing, Perspective, Planners
Management.
It can be super daunting because people feel it’s more about dealing with others shit than doing great work.
And sometimes it is.
But it doesn’t always have to be that way.
Whether I am a good manager is something my colleagues would have to tell you, but one thing I think I am good at is building a team. That’s not just down to who you hire – in some ways, that’s the easiest bit – it’s how you keep them all together while moving them collectively and individually forward once they’re in.
And for me, it comes down to one word.
It’s that one at the top of this post.
Trust.
Small word.
5 letters.
Means everything.
But one thing I was taught that has served me well is that trust is earned not just handed to you because of your position.
Yes, Hemingway said the best way to trust someone is to trust them – and I get that, because so much starts with the attitude you have towards someone – but as a manager, I believe the key to achieving it is to accept you start with none of it.
Which is why if you’re at a point where you could be taking on a management position and are either fighting against it or daunted because of it, let me tell you what has helped me.
When you take the job – regardless how well you know you team – don’t expect them to trust you.
It would be nice if they do, but even then, don’t take it for granted.
Earn it by proving it.
Keep earning it by continually proving it.
Be transparent, honest, consistent, constructive and supportive.
Oh, and for gods sake give a shit about what those you are responsible for, give a shit about.
They can deal with you fucking up.
If it’s your first management gig, they almost expect it.
But they need to feel you support them, back them and want the best for them.
That doesn’t mean you pander or creep, it just means they know you want them to succeed better than they thought they could by finding ways to develop their talent to be better than they thought they ever could.
Earn their trust by investing your time in their lives. Listen. Be honest. Give a shit. Talk to them. Make space for them to grow, be inspired, fuck up and fail. Not to mention for them to change your mind on things you thought you were certain on. Never let good enough ever be good enough – for you, for them and the work being created. Know what you don’t know so they can learn from someone who does.
Yes, you will still have to deal with their shit – and they’ll have a ton to give you over time – but they will repay you by making the best work of their lives because ultimately, you’ve created the environment that enables them to keep performing at their best in ways that are better than they ever imagined.
And that’s when you discover management isn’t all filled with darkness, but also with brilliant light.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Agency Culture, Attitude & Aptitude, Brilliant Marketing Ideas In History, Communication Strategy, Confidence, Creativity, Immaturity, Planners Making A Complete Tit Of Themselves And Bless
Yes I know I wrote about this just a few weeks ago … and this is my attempt to ease us back into working life … but the wonderful Mr Weigel misguidedly sent me a photo [he was jet lagged, so he forgot how stupid an idea this was] that highlights how the downturn in traditional adspend is having an impact on the entire industry.
This …
Let’s face it, when one of the best agencies in the World is diversifying to make some coin, it must be bad.
On the plus side, when my mates at Adam&Eve see this post and tell me to go “screw myself”, I’ll interpret that as them offering me a solution, not being angry. Perfect.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Agency Culture, Attitude & Aptitude, Audio Visual, Authenticity, Communication Strategy, Confidence, Content, Context, Creative Brief, Creative Development, Creativity, Culture, Emotion, Empathy, Entertainment, Imagination, Innocence, Innovation, Management, Marketing, Perspective, Planners, Planning, Relevance, Resonance
I saw this quote by David Thoreau recently …
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
I have to say I love it because in some ways, it’s the best definition of creativity – and, to a certain extent, strategy – I’ve seen in ages.
Of course our job is to help clients achieve their goals.
Help them succeed in ways that are better than they imagined.
But too much of what we are doing is solving problems laterally rather than literally.
Or worse, simply executing what the client wants.
For me, the best creativity makes people think, feel, question … and to do that, you need people who see the World differently so that they can see what everyone else is just looking at.
Revealing possibility rather than reproducing what everyone already knows.
And doesn’t care about.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, America, Attitude & Aptitude, Brand Suicide, Comment, Communication Strategy, Confidence, Corporate Evil, Cunning, Daily Fail, Experience, Fake Attitude, Innovation, Management, Marketing, Marketing Fail, Premium, Standards, Technology
So did you get over your first day back at work?
What was worse … that, or this blog restarting.
Yeah … thought so.
Well I have some good news, because as you read this, I’m on my way to Shanghai.
And there’s better news … this means there won’t be any posts till Friday.
How good is that, 2 days into 2020 blogging and already you’re having a break.
But don’t get too happy, remember I said I would be back on Friday.
So back to those unicorns.
And more specifically, why Wall Street investors like to label certain dot.com companies with that moniker.
Well the answer is easy, because they don’t exist … at least not in the way they claim.
Especially when held under a microscope.
Think about it …
Evernote.
Theranos.
And then WeWork.
Mind you, given how much one of the founders walked away with – despite highly questionable practices, including copyrighting then selling to the company the word ‘we’ – there is definitely a reason why some people are called white collar criminals.
And they say crime doesn’t pay …
See you Friday.
Enjoy the early days of peace.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Attitude & Aptitude, Authenticity, Communication Strategy, Confidence, Corporate Evil, Creativity, Empathy, Insight, Marketing, Marketing Fail, Perspective, Relevance, Resonance
So before I begin with my post, I have some good news …
This will be the last post for 13 days.
THIRTEEN!
I’m in China all next week and then when I return, I’m having 3 days off – of which one of them is to celebrate Otis’ 5th birthday!
Five. Can’t believe it.
Anyway, I know I’ve just made your impending weekend more enjoyable so have fun and see you when I’m back on the 12th … though there will be a special birthday post the day before for my little one.
So now back to the post …
One of the things I hate is when a client mistakes being premium priced for meaning they have premium customers.
That just isn’t true, even more so now with the access to finance. Seriously, it’s like banks deny the 2008 crash never happened. Mind you, when you’re bailed out by the public, it didn’t.
Anyway …
Being premium priced – especially when the brand is in a mainstream marketing and comparing themself to mainstream competitors – simply means you cost more.
There may be reasons for that cost premium.
Great and valid reasons … but that doesn’t mean the audience who are buying the products are more sophisticated or educated.
If anything, it might be the opposite.
Some may be doing it to overcome their insecurities.
Some may be doing it to satisfy their delusional ego.
Some may be doing it because it represents something they’ve worked – and work – hard for and want to protect or defend or nurture.
But whatever the reason, the vast majority of people who choose these brands are, in the main, everyday people who justify the price premium because they offer something additionally appealing – be it professional, functional or emotional.
There is nothing wrong with this.
There is nothing unappealing about this.
In fact, it is an amazing, given we are talking about people making decisions that cost them more because something is so important to them.
And yet so many marketers want to feel their customers are the wealthiest and most discerning of all, ignoring the fact that if that were true, then their product wouldn’t be premium priced, because for the wealthy, it would be cheap.
I recently had a meeting with someone from a mainstream, mass market brand who tried to convince me their customers were the 1%, despite all evidence proving otherwise. They also tried to claim their marketing was ‘high-brow’ as it meant only the wealthy would truly ‘grt it’.
That’s right, they were suggesting intelligence was linked to wealth.
I know a lot of people may believe that, but even if it were true – which it isn’t – they are mistaking wealth for opportunity … which I appreciate is becoming more and more influenced more by being able to afford a private education given governments are underfunding state options, ignoring the fact an educated population creates greater possibilities for the entire nation.
I digress.
Again.
Sorry, it’s just these are subjects that make me so angry and upset.
Anyway, I cannot tell you how much fun I had putting them right … how much I enjoyed explaining to them that their audience were far more in line with average household income than the 1% … but at the end of the day, I know it was all in vain because every single day, I look at ads and see ‘premium priced’ brands acting like their customer base are better than everyone else, which ultimately demonstrates marketing is less about understanding your audience and more about comforting the boardroom ego.