Growing confidence

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Growing confidence

Great leaders grow confidence in the people around them, like a gardener grows plants — through careful nurture and attention to all the conditions it needs to thrive.

Things are looking up

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Things are looking up

Spotting risks is not just about hunkering down. The risks can and will create opportunities.

Stop doing things right

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Stop doing things right

You, as the founder/CEO, need to move from ensuring things in the agency are done right, to ensuring the agency is doing the right things.

Hang up your tools

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Hang up your tools

A key part of growing as a leader as you grow your agency, is to learn to leave behind what you did before.

It's not all on you

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It's not all on you

Too many leaders think they need to keep the stressful stuff to themselves, and put a rose-tinted spin on everything to the team.

Does your most important team member secretly want to quit?

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Does your most important team member secretly want to quit?

I heard from someone senior at an agency recently, with a story that should be a wake up call for all of us.

Succession

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Succession

Reflect on your agency without you, and what you can do to ensure it is prepared.

Too much to do? Stop

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Too much to do? Stop

It's easy to feel overwhelmed, and not know where to start on your long wishlist of big-picture things to do.

Batch and automate

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Batch and automate

The role of the agency founder is to build the business to do the work, not to do the work of the business.

Summer Reflections: One more thing

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Summer Reflections: One more thing

Right at the end of the special summer series of reflections on your agency, is just one more thing...

Summer Reflections: Growth

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Summer Reflections: Growth

What do you need to become for your agency to become what you need it to be?

Summer Reflections: Self

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Summer Reflections: Self

If an agency is to be more than just creating a job for yourself, then it needs to contribute towards your dreams and ambitions.

Summer Reflections: Daydreams

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Summer Reflections: Daydreams

Imagine you've just had the perfect week in your agency.

Summer Reflections: The Board

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Summer Reflections: The Board

Imagine that I've just joined your agency's advisory board. In advance of the first meeting, you and I are meeting for a couple of hours one-to-one.

Summer Reflections: Quiet heroes

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Summer Reflections: Quiet heroes

This week, consider the events of the last twelve months and think about the people in your agency who were involved at each turn.

Summer Reflections: Rearview

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Summer Reflections: Rearview

The first of six summer specials with prompts to think about when you get some time to yourself to think and dream about your agency.

On reflection

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On reflection

The agency business model is more complex than just keep on keeping on — agencies have to sense and adapt more rapidly than any other kind of business.

Starting from scratch

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Starting from scratch

Every business needs regular rethinking and redesigning, and it's possible to re-inject that startup freedom and energy without starting from scratch.