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Did we ever imagine we’d be grateful for a haircut?
For a grocery worker? For a delivery service(UPS,FED EX,USPS)? For a mechanic on duty? For a waiter, busboy or bartender? The list can go on and on. And can any of us imagine what it would be like without WIFI? Or your ZOOM account crashing from too much traffic? Then of course first responders of all types and anyone and everyone associated with the medical field from back office to technicians to doctors and nurses, maintainence and cleaning, supply chain to local pharmacies. I'm certain we had some appreciation for some of these folks but now if we stop and think we really understand the depth of critical need they all provide and how selfless they all are. We are living in extraordinary times and we can't get lost in the morass and lose site of gratitude and acknowledgement for all that is good. I'm very grateful for Seth Godin and his daily take on the world and how we might consider all of life's possibilities and challenges. Seth motivated this post from some weeks back with his blog called "Acknowledgements 2020" which I can't stop thinking about for what he was prodding us to never forget. Among other comments that resonated: "I'm grateful for the unseen but not anonymous people who are delivering packages, maintaining web servers, fixing things that break and showing up every single day." When you stop and think within your own organization today and prior to this crisis who are your "unseen but anonymous people" who play a vital role that deserve acknowledgement? Certainly Market Managers are unseen in the pivotal role they play in keeping their team together motivated and operating. The pressure they are under in these stressful business conditions is overwhelming to think about. Their business teams led by Business Managers/Controllers and their accounting teams keep the business flow moving with both clients and employees without missing a beat. Certainly, everyone who is part of the sales work flow plays a vital role in the day to day operation that must keep running even if an organization is on skeleton staff from sales management, sales staff, sales assistants, commercial continuity and the masters of a production staff. Of course as an ex-programmer we can't forget about what program directors and their team bring to the table with the air talent tirelessly keeping all of the proverbial plates spinning. They are our heart and soul. The National Rep folks within Katz continue to fight for our advertising share as this crisis lingers. Those involved with everything digital from content to client related are a lifeline to our audience and customers. HR plays an important role in keeping a company/employee relationship as productive as can be in these harrowing times. Those responsible for internal infrastructure whether it be engineering, IT or the safety of your physical plant quietly do their job and keep the operation on track. We also have to acknowledge the producers and board operators who play such an important role keeping the operation moving. With so many great stories coming out of the work of so many great staff members from our front line on air talent we also have to acknowledge our internal press/PR teams for spreading the good word and we thank all trade publications for carrying that word as well. We can't forget how the consulting thought leaders of our business inspire us to greater heights in the work they provide. I'm sure I left someone out and for that I apologize but I think former VP/Alternative Programming from IHeart John Allers put it best when he said: " The people of our planet have a long list of Thank You notes to send out once we emerge from this crisis. So many people have risen to the occassion to make sure our society continues to get everything from healthcare to groceries to media coverage and entertainment while we are stuck in our homes." Thank you to all for your seen and unseen greatness.
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As we scramble to adjust and create new norms amidst the current crisis, The Daily Standup has taken on a new and important meaning when it comes to maximizing leadership in the new universe.
What is it? Known also as: The Daily Scrum-which is a fifteen minute time boxed event for development teams to synchronize activities and create a plan for the next 24 hours, The Daily Standup is the equivalent routine to meet up with your team and update on the day past and the day ahead. The intent on the attendees standing up is so the meeting is short and to the point. As we all consider ways to be a stronger leader during times of crisis let's reconsider the importance of the Daily Standup and redefine what it means in today's Zoom world as we practice social distancing. Structure and routine have flown out the door for all of us in this crisis. As creatures of habit we crave structure and routine for what it means to discipline, focus and prioritization in the workforce. Isolation has also been a byproduct of this crisis and we have to be aware of the negative impact that can exist for your team. Add in the already inherent gaps in communication that can exist in organizations and you have a mounting concern. The water cooler conversation has disappeared and the opportunity to manage by walking around has also vanished for the time being. The Standup takes on new importance. The agenda of The Standup can be quite simple. What was accomplished yesterday? What is the goal for today? What obstacles are impeding progress? The energy of the meeting should be high and the purpose of it is well beyond the quick update that it accomplishes. As teams have had to adjust to remote work The Daily Standup provides the necessary structure and support on an emotional level to make sure the troops are in sync. It's the equivalent to a military leader calling for roll call at the start of the day. It's also the equivalent of the leader having an opportunity to look in everyone's eyes to see if they are healthy and OK. Connecting and reconnecting with people is important during this time of chaos and it would be wise to add into the structure of your calendar The Daily Standup. We have never seen a period in our life that has been so severely disrupted.
There is no model to study that replicates the complexity of the chaos we are all facing personally and professionally. Where can we find answers or perspective that can better prepare us as leaders? According to historian Doris Kearns Goodwin "history can provide perspective and solace" as we all try to grapple with the impact of Covid-19. Doris points to two points in history that we've weathered in the 20th century: "When the Great Depression hit rock bottom in March of 33, before the government was able to get in to help people and the vital organs of the economy were closing down and the second point was when it was a complete shock to the world when Hitler invaded Western Europe. Had he been able to continue his onslaught, western civilization as we know it would have been destroyed." In a new interview in Time Magazine Doris highlights the leadership of FDR and she notes his singular focus and consistent voice as part of his traits that carried the country thru the turbulent times. Doris also notes as FDR "spoke to the nation it was really a single voice, it was a trusted voice. There were fireside chats that he would prepare for days, and he would explain things sort of like a teacher." The President had the incredible knack as well of being "able to make people feel he was talking directly to them." Doris tries to give us reassurance to know that if we think we are in the worst of times, this isn't necessarily the worst. She says "if you go back to the Civil War, they thought even after Fort Sumter that it would be over in 90 days. They couldn't possibly have imagined what they'd have to endure. That was worse." Doris also uses the leadership of Lincoln as inspiration to draw from during these turbulent times. She particularly points out the ways that Lincoln led by example to ask the question "How was it possible to coordinate these inordinately,prideful,quarrelsome, jealous, supremely gifted men to support a fundamental shift in the purpose of the war? The best answer can be found in Lincoln's compassion, self awareness and humility. He never allowed his ambition to consume his kindheartedness." As each of us attempt to navigate these difficult times what are the applicable leadership skills that we can draw from history to make us better suited for success and most importantly make our teams be suited for success? 1)Lead with singular focus and a consistent voice. We are in uncharted territory today and your leadership messaging needs to not change by the hour or the day. Your people haven't been thru anything like this as well so they need the certainty and focus of your message on a regular basis. 2)Master the ability to speak to your team as if you are speaking to each individual one on one. FDR mastered this ability with his carefully prepared fireside chats and it further solidified his reputation for being a trusted voice. This is particularly challenging in the new norm world of ZOOM. 3)Practice compassion, self awareness and humility. Lincoln at the height of the Civil War never failed to realize the complex nature of the challenges at hand and he realized the importance of empathetic leadership at a time it was most needed. His abilities in these areas fostered a spirit that was critical during the challenging times. 4)Be a unifying force for the mission Lincoln brought together diverse groups on to his team and he encouraged the environment of collaborative process with his leadership. Different viewpoints were allowed and encouraged and he built into the process a sense of hope and optimism that we would ultimately find brighter days ahead. 5)Resilience Leadership during good and bad times requires resilience that keeps the strategy and mission on track. FDR and Lincoln were great examples of Presidents that set a calm and consistent tone based on fact and the core strength of their team. Doris Kearns Goodwin's book "Leadership in Turbulent Times" is available in hard cover and paperback and is published by Simon and Schuster. Some thoughts on a great new book by Rishad Tobaccowala. It's never a bad time to look for some soul but in these scary times it feels more important than ever. I interviewed Rishad a few weeks ago on my Buzz Cuts Podcast after reading his new book and so much has changed in the world since then, yet his wise does provide us with much needed inspiration at a time we all need it.
Back in 2018 the NAB was wise to bring in Rishad to speak about the importance of our industry accepting change and understanding the need to better prepare for the future. Rishad has been the Chief Growth Officer at Publicis Groupe and has just released a new book called “Restoring the Soul of Business-Staying Human in the Age of Data” and his deep insights come at a critical time for our business and for the world in chaos. His book is a labor of love as this “Buddha of Business” distills our ever increasing digital world and makes us more conscious of “upgrading the operating systems of people and companies by remembering the thinking and feeling component of the operating system.” Everyone is craving more data and Rishad cautions us to pour data through a series of filters and recognize that human judgement and intuition play a vital role. The book takes an important look at today’s mobile and networked workplaces and begs the questions regarding workplace culture challenges. How can employees avoid feeling overwhelmed and disconnected? Rishad challenges us to recommend to our people they limit their social media usage so they aren’t continually distracted by notifications and updates. At the core of the book Rishad highlights five emotional qualities that will help bosses communicate and motivate their people more effectively: Honesty, Empathy, Humility, Inspiration and Vulnerability. In today's complex world Rishad allows us to pause and reflect on ways we can all seek improvement. Check out my interview with Rishad about his new book "Restoring The Soul of Business" on my Buzz Cuts Podcast available wherever you find podcasts. Every once in awhile we have to take a pause in the chaos of the day and stop and celebrate the group that is a prime differentiator in our battle for attention.
TALENT! As someone who started on air maybe I have a different appreciation for the oddities, nuances and beauty of talent but isn’t it more critical than ever for us to embrace this bunch? We are fighting hard to remain top of mind every day and if we give up on them and just treat them as a line item aren’t we asking for trouble? I applaud people like Fred Jacobs who during his career has always understood the important value proposition of Talent and I also applaud Tracy Johnson and his recent blog post “Open Letter to Radio: It’s time to develop personalities” for bringing this vital topic to the foreground of our conversation. Let’s evaluate what Great Talent means to a Great Audio Brand: Talent keeps you live and in the moment when something of local or national importance is going on. Imagine being without talent at a moment of market crisis and shiver at the thought of not being in the moment. I think of the importance of Talent in Nashville in light of the recent tragedy. Talent allows you to engage in the moment with your audience while utilizing your important social and digital channels. Imagine trying to connect with your available audience without Talent and you’re imagining a sterile brand experience. Talent allows you to work diligently on behalf of your clients to get their message out to the mass market. Imagine a world without these great “pitch masters” and you have a world where we aren’t serving our customers. I’m sure you can add to this list yourselves and I welcome that feedback. WE MUST CHERISH AND CELEBRATE TALENT! I never met Mr. Welch but I miss him already for his legacy of great Management and Leadership that he left behind.
In an era of tremendous challenge in the midst of frequent chaos I believe considering what his brilliant mind brought to the business world is more important than ever to evaluate and learn from. Some of his key lessons Managers have to stop muddling and lead. It’s important to be a leader who lays out the clear vision and doesn’t squeeze out the joy of a situation by exercising control. Managers have to figure out the proper balance that allows them to manage less. Managers can tend to feel that close control is better management and in fact at times it can be the worst form of management. Every situation is different but the manager that can figure out how to manage less is the one that ultimately benefits from the internal competitive spirit and the positive benefit that is produced. Managers of all type need to seek ways to better articulate the vision to their respective teams. A leaders job is to inspire and those that lay out a clear vision stand a greater likelihood for creative ideas to be generated by their team. Managers need to always find an opportunity to energize their team members. Times are challenging today but energizing is a leadership priority that can’t be pushed to the bottom of the in box. Managers shouldn’t be afraid to get good ideas from everywhere. Great leadership understands the best idea wins and it doesn’t matter who it comes from. No matter what side of your business you occupy, leadership skills are a critical component of continuous improvement in your organization. Let’s learn from the wealth of knowledge the great Mr. Welch brought to the world. Recently I was part of a webinar with my friend Richard Zackon regarding the current state of the Radio job market and some ways for folks to consider how to unlock their potential at a very difficult time in the industry. Richard is an Executive Coach, Analytics Expert and an all around great guy who generally cares about making a difference and I share his passion for trying to make a difference. Richard is also quite inspiring in how he works at tapping the passionate potential in everyone at a time when we all need it. Some top line thoughts emerged from the webinar and I thought it was worth passing them along for those that couldn’t attend.
1)Be aware of your mood and make sure you stay busy. It’s easy to get into a funk this time of the year and it’s vital that you stay engaged and motivated as the search for the next job is underway. 2)Make sure you tap your network of friends and associates and reach out for guidance and support. People want to help and maybe one day you can return the favor and brighten their day.Also be cognizant to build upon your network as well. Your network is an important foundation for your future. 3)Stay curious and willing to learn new talents. As job searchers consider their next job path they need to be mindful of potential pivot opportunities and learning new talents will benefit those in the days ahead. Podcasting will be the focus of the next webinar with Richard and I along with Seth Resler from Jacobs Media this Friday at 1pm ET. Sign up here: http://www.123formbuilder.com/.form-5284063/webinar-registration-form It’s Friday and hopefully you have had a productive week.
Want to end it on a good note? Highlight good work from your peers. It’s simple and easy and it feels good. Go out of your way to make it public. Encourage the spirit of team and collaboration. Make note of someone who went above and beyond. We are all in it together and we need our eyes wide open to the good that happens in front of our nose. On my office desk for many years sits a wooden block with a metal label that says DWYSWD.
Time after time someone asks what the heck does that stand for? i tell the story of a past morning host that was trying to get in my good graces and gave me the desk block as a gift. DWYSYWD=DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU WILL DO. This is the most powerful mantra in today’s world more than ever! Follow up has become a frequent lost art. Close the loop and realize your word is all you have. Empty promises are hollow and a guarantee for failure. Make your words matter. There is a lot at stake. Stagnation should be the enemy of every organization.
Lack of activity, growth or development as the definition applies should make you scared to death if that’s where your team is headed. How could one cease activity and expect to keep up with the marketplace? Growth of audience can be a conundrum that brands face but when customer growth creeps into the equation and is stalled it can be deadly to the mission of development. It actually becomes more expensive to reacquire lost customers than it is to acquire the new customer. Pushing growth in an organization requires everyone on your team to be aligned on the purpose and mission of where you are headed. It requires an intricate understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each member of leadership so the team can compliment each other. |
AuthorBuzz Knight shares his thoughts about media happenings Archives
October 2021
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