What Makes A Great Agency Leader? George Rosenberg The Rosenberg Group

Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things. ~ Peter F. Drucker

Great Agency Leaders Come in All Shapes and Sizes The Visionary The Consensus Builder The Driver The Coach The Expert

Qualities of a Great Agency Leader Recognizes the importance of clarity of vision Engages in possibility thinking – all the time Understands the meaning of commitment Lives by standards of excellence Hires and empowers great people Understands and embraces change

Clarity of Vision The foundation of a great firm The way to attract clients and staff A reason why people stay – or go. Becomes a filter for all aspects of your business Visions help you move from fear-based thinking to possibility thinking

In the Beginning … You had a vision You spoke about that vision to everyone you met You hired your first employee or found a partner because of that vision

So What Happened to the Vision? For many it’s long gone Today’s “vision” is –Win more business –Keep the business I have –Find top talent –Keep the talent I have –Stay “alive”

So What is a Vision? “… a short, succinct statement of what the organization intends to become and to achieve at some point in the future, often stated in competitive terms.” “… a mental image of the possible and desirable future state of the organization.”

So What is a Vision? “It is almost a philosophy for the company to live by… something complete and against which you can hold up all major business decisions. ” “… a statement of possibility that defines the primary strategic goal of the organization.”

Visioning Starts with Commitment “I’ll do it” not “I’ll try” Involve your team Make the visioning process as important as winning the next piece of business Understand that without a vision you’re traveling to an unknown destination without a roadmap – and does that make any sense?

Great Leaders Live by standards of excellence –Operational and client service –Make them non-negotiable –Consider having your staff create them –Live them yourself –Improves performance and professionalism

Great Leaders Commit to great people –Hire “stars” no matter how long they take to find –Invest in people who bring new capabilities, skills, expertise, relationships –Seek out passion because it has no substitute –Create an organization that empowers others

Great Leaders Commit to being great –Make it your personal goal –Take courses, read books, hire a coach –Abhor the status quo –Great leaders build great agencies

Great Leaders Understand and embrace the process of change –“If you’re not part of the problem there is no solution” –Look at your own attitudes, habits and beliefs –Fear is the biggest stumbling block to change – embrace it as a wake-up call –What would you do if you weren’t afraid? –What would you do if money were no object?

“If you want to fix your future start by fixing yourself” Tim Sanders, former Chief Solutions Officer, Yahoo