“By some estimates, 60 percent of the errors made in business can be directly or indirectly attributed to poor listening.” [1]
And so getting to the heart of matters, be it when coaching an agency-land senior leader, or solving a marketing or business challenge, it starts with listening. That then leads to asking questions, in a form and fashion that delves deeply but maintains trust, helping people to think deeply for themselves, to help them to get to the right answers.
For that to work, there has to be partnership, true partnership.
As someone who was born in New Zealand and grew up there, I've benefited from exposure to the many cultures forming the modern NZ. Maori, the indigenous race of NZ, have a concept called ‘kotahitanga’. It has a few meanings, but it does mean creating oneness and partnership and using that to move things forward. I’m not of Maori ethnicity, but I love the notion of ‘kotahitanga’ and believe in it deeply.
[1] Bill Wheless, ‘Is anybody listening?’ Business & Economic Review, Jan-Mar 1998, Vol. 44 Issue 2, p9-12.
Working in the marketing services sector, be it in a creative or specialist digital agency, media, PR or market research agency, or any one of the many agency types, has always had its challenges. Client management, long hours, expectation to deliver creatively on the spot, it’s all in there. As the world changes – including with the rise of key technologies like AI, being a marketing services sector employee or leader becomes a tougher gig, almost day by day. Helping those in this sector, is what I focus on, addressing questions like:
If you think you or your people could benefit from coaching from someone who really understands the marketing services sector and how it ticks, has the years in the agency world to really understand it, then I’m here to help you.
Depending on who you speak to, Marketing is either just the colouring-in department, or the crew that produce the PowerPoint charts and giveaway trinkets …. or an essential function that delivers leads, added value and helps to differentiate the entire entity in the market.
Like most specialisms, trying to differentiate fact from fiction and lack of understanding (whatever the cause) from truth, can be a real challenge. For that you need someone with time on the job, practical knowledge and a holistic viewpoint, who can help you answer key questions like:
With a decades-long background in B2B marketing and services industries, with extensive knowledge of getting marketing to work with creative services agencies and with sales and other internal functions, then I could be the help you’re looking for.
