On Leadership

There is a big difference between being a boss and being a leader.

A boss does what needs to be done to get the task at hand accomplished. They aren't concerned with fresh thinking, new approaches or employee morale. They simply want to get the job done so they can collect their paycheck.

Leaders, on the other hand, inspire. They look for the best ideas, wherever those may be. They understand that their role is to help everyone do the job to the best of the their abilities. They appreciate unconventional thinking. They reward employees who contribute. They don't sit back and wait for a problem to appear before they tackle it. They accept that they don't have all the answers, that they aren't always the best person for the job. Because at the end of the day, they know it isn't about them and what they can bring to the table. They know it's what the entire company can do to produce better work for better results.

Advertising thrives on leaders. Agencies rise and fall based on their leadership. Rising stars are born because of strong leadership.

As agencies restructure to keep up with the new technology and media, they need to remember that their agency's success will ultimately stem from the effectiveness of their leadership. If those at the top are worried about their egos, their legacies and their role in the new structure, the agency will suffer. Right now agencies need leaders. They need people who listen, who inspire and who do it for the good of the agency, not for the good of the their wallets and egos.