Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Agency Culture, Attitude & Aptitude, Brand, Brand Suicide, Colenso, Colleagues, Context, Culture, Dad, Distinction, Dysgraphia, Effectiveness, Emotion, Empathy, Equality, Fatherhood, Football, Jill, Leadership, London, Loyalty, Management, Marketing, My Fatherhood, Nottingham Forest, Otis, Parents, Perspective, Police, Relevance, Resonance, Respect
I hope I’m a decent leader.
While I know there will be some people I’ve worked with, who definitely won’t hold that view … I hope the majority do.
Because – believe it or not – I try hard to be.
Sure, I make some mistakes.
And I can definitely be a pain in the ass.
But I am committed and invested in being the best boss I can be.
I consider myself fortunate because over the years, I’ve had incredible ‘teachers’.
From my parents to mentors to some old bosses … and of course, a few who were so shite, they taught me what not to do, haha.
And while there are many things I believe, adopt and hold dear, one of the most important is: always back your team in public and resolve disputes in private.
It sounds obvious … and it is … but it’s not always followed.
I’ve heard some shocking examples on Corporate Gaslighting … stuff that doesn’t just sound vicious, but the act of megalomaniacs.
But in terms of backing the team, there were few better than football manager legends, Brian Clough and Sir Alex Ferguson.
Yes, I accept they may have had some usual ways of doing this – and demonstrating this – but players knew that unless something exceptionally terrible had happened, their managers would always back them should they face public or managerial scrutiny.
Of course, there was a cost for this …
A cost that was simple but exhaustive.
And it was that the gift of being backed was reciprocated with dedication, focus and effort.
And that – to me – is key.
It’s OK to make mistakes.
It’s alright to sometimes mess things up.
But it can’t be because you were lazy or distracted.
I’ve said it many times, but I believe my job is to ensure that when someone in my team leaves, as they all will at some point, they go because they have a better job than they ever could have imagined.
Chosen for who they are, not just what they do.
Known for what they’ve created, not how well they’re known.
Chased for what they’ve changed, not what they maintained.
OK, there are some exceptions to that – mainly personal reasons, like love or a chance to chase something they’ve always wanted – but I believe I have a responsibility to them to help develop their natural talent, find and release their distinct strategic voice and move things out the way so they can create the most interesting shit of their lives.
It’s why my absolute worst scenario is someone leaving for a sideways move.
Oh my god, I would honestly feel I’d failed them.
And that’s why I place so much importance in backing them and showing my belief in them.
That doesn’t mean it’s blind faith.
We have very honest conversations a lot.
From gentle chats to bi-annual check-in/reviews … but they’re in private and focused on being through the lens of me wanting them to win.
Whether I achieve this is something only they can say. I hope most would agree with it [even those when we’ve parted ways] but if not, then I can assure them I’m working harder to be better.
The reason I say all this is because I saw something recently that I thought was a perfect example of backing the team.
It’s from the British Police.
Now they are getting a lot of stick at the moment. A lot totally deserved.
But this time it’s not them trying to justify an indefensible act … it’s something that resonated with me, because of Otis’ dysgraphia.
It was this.
The British Police – or maybe it’s all Police these days – have a bad reputation.
It’s manifested in mistrust and a lack of people wanting to sign up.
And while I fully appreciate they have a tough job and want to get better [as we saw with West Midland’s Police hiring my mate, Kay, to be their ‘artist in residence’ to better understand and connect to youth culture] … it’s acts like this that are more likely to help the public see the human side of the force as well as the compassionate side.
Anyone who runs a team knows it can be a painful job.
Some days it can feel more like being a cat-litter tray.
But when they know you’ll back them, they’ll back you with their talent, focus and commitment.
Well done Carlisle Police … we need more backing of people with neuro-diversity. Because the more we back those who are different, the more they will show the difference they can make.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Agency Culture, Attitude & Aptitude, Authenticity, Awards, China, Creativity, Culture, Equality
This is an open letter to Little Black Book, The Drum, Campaign Brief, Campaign, Adweek, Cannes, Warc … basically every industry publication or award show around the world.
Please …
Pretty please …
… can you stop awarding English speaking agencies – especially those only with offices in English speaking nations, only producing work in English – titles like ‘Best APAC agency’.
I get they may have won more awards than any other agency in the region.
I get they may have topped more categories than any other agency in the region.
I get they may have been recognised more than any other agency in the region.
BUT at best, they’re the best ENGLISH SPEAKING agency in APAC.
That clarification is important …
Because apart from it being factually correct, it stops devaluing and demeaning the companies, agencies and people who don’t speak English as their native language.
Which in terms of the APAC region, is the vast majority.
Years ago, an agency who had been named APAC Agency of the Year, put something out that said something like:
“If you’re a company in Japan who are ambitious, then the APAC Agency of the Year would love to help you fulfil your goals”.
Now I get recognition is important.
I also get being named APAC Agency of the Year is utterly epic.
But … but …
Hell, it wasn’t even written in Japanese … which suggests they didn’t think it mattered if you don’t speak the language, don’t know the culture, don’t have an office in that country, don’t have any Japanese employees, don’t work in Japanese … you can teach them a thing or two about great work.
I mean, can you get more Colonialist than that???
Hell, even if they meant it in terms of expanding outside of Japan – rather than inside the country – it’s still pretty arrogant.
That said, I used to see this shit all the time when I was in China.
I still remember an exec from a UK-only based agency telling a room full of Chinese business leaders “we can help them be successful”, despite that being the very first time they had been in China … or the social media ‘guru’ who told people at Unilever China why Twitter was so powerful, not realising Twitter was banned in China.
It would be hilarious if it wasn’t tragic.
I should point out Colenso has been crowned ‘best APAC agency’ in its time … and while that before I was here, I still find it wrong and would openly say it was.
Sure, they didn’t suggest they were going to colonise the whole region with their approach to creativity, but they also didn’t say they weren’t … which still suggests some sort of superiority, intentional or not.
Look, I get the titles are a byproduct of how the awards are calculated … and I get it also reflects who enters and how many times … but given the vast majority of the judges are English natives – with Western frames-of-reference – it immediately benefits those who come from similar backgrounds.
This is not a new issue for me.
I said it when I got Chaz from BBH to do a co/presentation with me/Wieden in 2012 … I said in back in 2013, when I was invited to speak at Mumbrella about Asian creativity and I said it every time I was spoke at an Asian awards where the lead language was – bizarrely – English.
Asian creativity has a terrible reputation.
I know there’s issues of scam advertising, but that’s not unique to Asia. Remember Peggy?
The reality is the Asian region has used creativity in innovative ways for thousands of years.
For fucks sake, this is where paper, printing, money, gunpowder, wheelbarrows, coffins, chopsticks, toilet paper, holistic health and TikTok originated.
Sure, the creativity produced today may not always follow Western market approaches … and their contexts of life may be very different to other countries … but that doesn’t mean it’s any less worthy, valuable, creative or interesting.
We can all learn from others.
There is so much to gain from hearing how other countries approach things.
Being the best English speaking agency in APAC is still a wonderful achievement.
But there’s enough ego in this industry without us adding to it by handing out titles that have more in common with colonialism than creativity.
Over to you industry award and magazines …
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Agency Culture, Apathy, Attitude & Aptitude, Brand Suicide, Business, Corporate Evil, Corporate Gaslighting, Culture, Devious Strategy, Equality, Management, Marketing Fail
A few weeks ago, I saw this Linkedin x Headspace ‘survey’ …
What struck me immediately was the possible choice of answers they gave.
Not one offered any possibility that the ‘scaries’ could be caused by the company you are working for.
None.
No reference to toxic behaviour.
No reference to bad working conditions.
No reference to unrealistic expectations.
And yet, if you visit Corporate Gaslighting, you will see endless stories of people having to deal with just that … and let me tell you, no amount of prep, self-care, going out or unplugging is going to solve that.
Now I know someone is paying Linkedin for this ‘survey’, but in choosing to only offer those options, they – and Headspace – are reinforcing the belief the emphasis of blame – and responsibility – falls with the employee … and frankly, that’s the sort of attitude that causes the ‘scaries’ in the first place.
Now of course Linkedin has form for claiming ‘professional community’ while revealing they’re all about corporate complicity, but if they want to at least continue that claim, it would be great if they ensured they reflected the needs of the audience, not just the person who is paying them the most.
And people wonder why the great resignation happened … even though, as I wrote a while back, that title was chosen by people who show they don’t really understand the conditions they’ve created because ‘the great reset’ or ‘the last hope’ would be far more appropriate.
Linkedin.
Headspace.
You could play an important role in the future of work.
Not just in getting jobs, but setting standards and allowing alternative voices to be heard.
I get money is also important, but you’re better than this … surely?
That said, maybe your actions are the best demonstration of what corporate life is these days.
Chase the money.
Do whatever the highest bidder asks.
Only mingle with like-minded people so no one gets to call either out.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Attitude & Aptitude, Authenticity, Comment, Confidence, Culture, Education, Emotion, Empathy, Equality, Honesty, Leadership, Legend
I hate losing.
Absolutely hate it.
But I also understand there are benefits to it.
Well, if you lost despite giving your all.
Because losing is a lesson.
It forces you to take a long hard look at yourself.
What you did.
What you didn’t.
What you can improve.
What you need to improve.
What you can take forward with you.
And while there’s the famous Vince Lombardi quote:
“Show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser”
… I’ve found those who take loss on the chin aren’t necessarily doing it because they don’t care, they’re doing it because they do.
But recently I found incredible quote from Muhammad Ali.
A new way to look at the role of losing … and I love it.
What a way to own loss …
Turning the narrative from despair to character.
Changing judgement into inspiration.
And to do that when you’ve lost the ‘fight of the century’ … incredible.
But then Ali always knew the role and responsibility he held.
He may not have wanted it, but he was not going to close the door on those who needed it.
Needed him.
Needed his direction, inspiration and articulation.
Needed to know there was a chance of a better life than the one others wanted them to have.
Which is why it makes everything even more perfect that he then went on to win that fight.
Twice.
Because honour in losing was just preparation for his honour is victory.
In a World of white, toxic machismo … how we could do with Ali’s majesty right now.
Filed under: Attitude & Aptitude, Authenticity, Culture, England, Equality, Family
Recently a mate sent me a photo and – quite frankly – I’m all kinds of obsessed with it.
Look at it.
LOOK AT IT!!!
How amazing is that?!
I have no idea how they could capture so much in one frame, but they did.
Everywhere I look there’s an image that makes me go, “WTF?” … from the travel agents, that seems the most misplaced shop in the history of misplaced shops, through to that guy in the top window seemingly relieving himself on the people below.
I have no idea if this image is staged.
If it is, it’s utterly brilliantly done.
But I have a feeling its real, because while I’ve never seen all of these things happen at the same time, I’ve definitely been in places where a bunch of them have.
More than that, I’ve been in places where what we see in this photo is not some sort of circus of chaos, but everyday normality.
While I didn’t grow up in that environment, a lot of my friends did – and so I spent a lot of time in those places when I was younger. And you know what, I only saw good in it. The community. The interaction. The colour and vibrancy. The noise. The freedom.
Which is why even though it would be easy to make judgements on the people in the photo – and the environment they’re living in – my personal context tells me they’re good people [except maybe the guy urinating on those below] dealing with a different set of circumstances and options.
Or said another way, they’re a product of a system designed to dismiss them rather than enable them.
A system that determined they only deserve minimal investment in housing, education and infrastructure because there was more personal-gain to be had directing the funds to places and people who offered more political and professional capital.
Sick really isn’t it?
Especially when council’s and governments are supposed to look after the best interests of all, not just those who will keep them in power.
Now many of my friends who grew up in these places have gone on to do great things.
Started their own businesses.
Become amazing parents to amazing families.
Moved into jobs where they can help others move forward.
But all of this was because of who they are – and who their families are – rather than the system wanting to help.
Which is the issue I have with democracy … because it encourages self-interest, not the nations.
Now of course, democracy is better than the alternative but I do think it would be better served if the voting age was 16 – 65.
A way to better equalise the balance of voters.
A way to allow more policies designed for youth rather than about them.
A way to stop youth only being able to make their voice heard from the age of 18, when those 65 and above, can keep pushing their opinion till death.
This does not mean I want to rob the elderly of their rights or the benefits they deserve. It’s just I don’t want youth to be told what they can have by people who aren’t them and so, don’t really get what they want or need.
So while this photo is amazing for a whole host of reasons, the main one – for me – is how we live doesn’t represent who we are.