Now that's what I call Agency Espresso 2023

Let's wrap up the year with a look back at our greatest hits on this newsletter.

Have a scan through for any you missed, or would like to read and reflect on again as you think about 2024...

Particularly relevant and timely for the year that was 2023

In social science, agency is defined as "the capacity of individuals to have the power and resources to fulfil their potential." And so, as a founder, we should design our agency to give us agency.

Everything has a natural state, and will default to that direction — unless we act to change it. Like gravity. Accepting this, and designing the action and making it normal, is what is game-changing.

You need to choose your wheels for the terrain.

Tough years can feel like going round in circles, but really they are spirals, and you're in a better place than you think.

Bossing It

I did a whole series on how I hated the idea of being a boss in my first agency, so pretty much abdicated the role, which led to a mess. I then gradually learned to take on the role, by:

• Avoiding avoidance: keeping the business, and yourself, pointed towards the difficult things that need fixing, and actually doing something about them.

• Being accepting of the true reality, so you grant yourself the power to act

• What you personally get ticked off a list each day doesn't matter anymore — all that matters is what your agency as a whole achieves.

• Training is the bosses job

• Instead of trying to motivate people into being happy, ensure they have a good motive to take the right actions.

• One of the key parts of stepping up to be the boss is becoming a mindful and proactive communicator. Actively receiving and transmitting. Spreading ideas and knowledge around.

• How you can design the agency to make more (and better) decisions, rather than being the decider yourself

• Creating a culture of accountability in your agency.

Agency Evolution

I published a series on how to make innovation and internal projects work more effectively in an agency delivery more value, including:

• Problems are your friend. Actively seeking out problems as 'puzzles to be solved' will focus you on where the greatest value lies.

• Slow down to go faster. Limiting work in progress is the key to actually finishing internal projects, rather than them dragging on.

And finally...

Just recently I've been doing a series of quick thoughts around the 5 elements of my SPARK framework for AgencyOps. Those have been over the last few weeks so are probably fresher in your mind, but if you want a reminder you can find them on our website.

But to finish off this roundup of the year in Agency Espresso, here's what Shaun the Sheep can teach us about running agencies.

Happy new year

I hope you've had a great time with your family and friends over Christmas, and I wish you a happy new year.

2024 will be the year to step up leadership of your agency, and your market. Clients need you to show them where to go next, and how to get there.

Be bold, be ambitious, be wise.

Build a healthy agency that gives you a great life.