management

So, I'm 47 years old and have never had any children. I have lots of kids in my life, and I'm good with them. It's not as if I'm some Auntie Mame that never really wanted to deal with the little creatures. Details of my life conspired against me in this arena, but it's all ok. I like and respect the little friends and they seem to feel the same way about me.  

But no kids brings up something in an office where  I'm old enough to be just about everyone's mother. What is that something? It's that over arching feeling that you ARE their mother. Motherhood may not be your destiny but it will find you, in some form or fashion.

Look, the amazing people that work for and with me do not need or want a mother. It's just the weird and inevitable phenomena that accompanies someone that has, by and large, a nurturing spirit. So, on a daily basis I try to balance the "I'm older than you and know best and want to protect you from the pitfalls of life" (lol) with sound management.

How do I do that?

1) Remember what it was like when I had to answer to someone who always felt like they knew more than I did (boring and deflating)

2) Remember, sadly, that they are LIGHT YEARS more mature than I was when I was their age

3) Remember that boundaries are CRITICAL for good management no matter how "creative" the environment

4) Remember that after all, what they really want is a fair boss and a raise

Working on the raise. Lol!

In business, especially in our business, things die. Or, in less dramatic terms, clients come and go. And honestly, it can be a bummer. Just when you thought things were going great there is a management change and you’re out. Nothing you can do it about. No hard feelings, just business.

The death of a client really used to bother me, especially because you put so much into what you do for them and there is a part of you that believes they will be there forever. But they won’t. No one lasts that long. So my new feeling is when a client passes, go higher. Instead of getting upset and circling the wagons, get BIGGER. Because if you don’t you will just keep shrinking.

Our business isn’t a numbers game, and I know quite a few agencies that operate that way. We aim to be a strategic partner to our clients, even if they only choose to use us in a more administrative capacity. But even though we don’t play by the numbers, we always need to expand, because that is just the way it works in our industry. So, if you’re feeling like things are getting smaller rather than getting bigger, remember that for something to grow it often has to die first.

Source: mediapitch.ning.com