Ok, some of you may be wondering - "What can an Art Major tell me about Leadership though rough economic times?" No, I'm not an accountant or financial adviser and you won't see me on TV shouting "buy, buy, buy... sell, sell, sell" but I do have some experience on the topic of leadership.Of course, a fare amount of leadership is needed in developing and coordinating a special event but there are other instance that lend themselves to an educated commentary on this topic. Yes, in between being a Public Relations Director for a small animation studio and a Business Marketing Manager for a game development and entertainment publishing company I worked as a contract Sales and Technical Trainer for (at the time) the nation's largest telecommunications company.
All most every industry (including the event industry) has been challenged by the current economic climate. Americans have gone from buying big cars and big houses to finding themselves suddenly concerned with things like housing, fuel prices, job security, and savings. More than ever consumers are closely watching where their money is going and businesses from large, multi-national corporations to small, family owned businesses are seeing the impact. With the U.S. dollar as the driving force for currency around the world, our fiscal mindset is being echoed throughout the global economy. That's the bad news. Now for the good news. This is not the first time (or the last) this has happened - it's a fact, by its very nature economies cycle through periods of rise and fall - they shrink and flourish. Truth is troubled economies don't last forever.
For those of us in the event industry this is an especially interesting time because we understand that "life goes on" - people still have babies and baby showers, family matriarchs are celebrating Golden anniversaries, young Jewish boys still turn 13 and have Bar Mitzvah, young Latina girls turn 15 and have Quinceaneras, and couples still fall passionately, hopelessly in love and get married! Experts are starting to see small glimmers of growth on the horizon. This is can be the signs of exciting news for business but only those who position themselves for the "turn around" and have good leadership in place to implement plans will come out stronger than before. I've had the opportunity to lead range of personalities - from training creative right brain thinkers like Caricature Artist's who work on commission at a world famous theme park to coaching extremely logical, linear left brain thinkers like Customer Service Representatives during the high-speed Internet technology boom. I've developed a leadership philosophy that allow them all to shine like diamonds.
Those of us in the wedding industry are familiar with the 4 "C's" - the general rules made up of specific
criteria that are designed to measure a diamond's worth. They are Cut, Color, Clarity and Karat (yes, spelt with a "K"). These "C's" are key characteristics in determining the gem's quality, beauty, integrity and value. Over the years I've found that when it comes to leadership there are common factors that, characteristics if you will, that aid leaders to effectively grow, inspire, and prosper in that would cause others to fail. Here are the my 5 "C'" - rules that if used during challenging times to position a company and it's team for success.1. Courageousness: Good leadership requires a strong amount of courage. Beware of the paralyzing effect that a slow economy - some companies take "a wait and see" approach (which in some cases may be a good move) but when there are signs that action needs to be taken they are afraid to make changes. Successful leadership is not stagnate. They evaluate what's working and were improvements can be made. They are not afraid of trying new things, make smart changes, take very calculated risks based on a well throughout plans, and are not afraid to make mistakes. Good leadership know that often, out of challenging time the greatest innovations are made.
2. Communication: It's hard to believe but in a world of voicemails, emails, texting, and tweeting interpersonal communication is, in fact, a dieing art. Think about it, when was the last time someone wrote you a well written letter on stationery? How often have you witnessed someone texting or checking emails while with a group of people at a dinning table? Or, have you had an issue of "miscommunication" with someone even after a number of emails? Great leadership understands that communication is vital to success. Good leaders are great talkers (able to express concepts in presentations, face to face meetings or even in a simple hand written letter) however, they are even better listeners. They understand the importance of a timely follow-up as well as positive and constructive feedback. Have you ever heard the phrase "Feedback is a gift"? Feedback shows you not only what is working well but what could be improved and good leaders understand the importance of constructive feedback. We all love "positive" feedback - who doesn't love compliment but constructive feedback is more important. Think about the last time you were out at a party - mingling, meeting new people, joking, laughing, maybe even flirting. You go into the restroom, look in the mirror and are mortified to discover an enormous piece of spinach in your front teeth. You wonder "How long has that been there? Why didn't someone tell me?" Constructive feedback is designed not to hurt you but to help you fix a problem. Good leadership understands that great ideas and help can come from anywhere.
3. Creativity: I think good leadership not only understands the rules of the game and why they are in place but also when it's time to bend them. Creativity plays an important role in leadership. I'm not just talking about from a design, crafts or artistic perspective but a since of unique vision and flexibility. The ability to "think outside the box" and look at a task from different perspectives allows a leader to explore the many facets of a concern, develop new solutions and find inspired approaches to prevent other issues before they even begin.
4. Coaching: One of the most powerful duties a good leader has is to always provide themselves and their team with the tools they need for success. Strong leaderships does this through Coaching - educating themselves with the most current information and conveying the right information to their team through continuous training. It's extremely important to ensure that a team is inspired, excited about their mission, and works well together. Team building exercises, incentives programs, and general one-on-one encouragement should be a consistent practice of leadership and are especially vital during an uncertain economic period. Effective coaching should be as fun as it is informative - resulting in enthusiasm and confidence that your Client will find infectious.
5. Consistency: Actually, this could be considered two"Cs" - Consistency and Confidence. As important as it is to be flexible in challenging times, firmness is equally as important. Customers, Clients, and company team-members look to see consistency from a company and its leadership. It's easy to demonstrate confidence during a time of economic growth but it's quite another during a time when sales drag and the stocks dips. Good Leaders are able to demonstrate consistent confidence, focus, and dedication though these tough times. They act as a reliable support system; answering questions, offering a kind and encouraging word, and are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and lend a hand when needed - in other words, leadership is dependable.
Are these 5 "C's" the only approach to leadership in challenging economic times? Of course not, they are simply practices I've employed and are reflective of my leadership style. However, in this economy, more than ever, its a company's leadership that will determine its future and sets the tone for its recover.
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