Being exposed to start ups from time to time is one of the most interesting things I do in my working life. I hate calling them start ups cause somehow it seems like I am talking about technology companies and I am not. I’m just talking about small and new companies that do interesting stuff.
The good thing with small companies with passionate people is that they are extremely flexible. They take advantage of everybody’s skills, let them do exactly what they love and capitalise on it. Yes, it’s that simple.
Today though I am reminded of bigger companies who are not so flexible. Some of them – sometimes – see a project and go ‘I wish that was us’. I mainly see this in the creative sector. Some niche little studio tucked away in some London neighbourhood comes out with a project that is just incredible and lovely.
Now, for one reason or another, I am accustomed to people bad-mouthing good work that they hope they had thought of first. It’s not nice but hey, it happens, especially in markets that are small(er) and more difficult to develop (for example Greece and being Greek I am allowed to say that).
Yet the best big companies just follow Ogilvy‘s advice and just aim to hire people that are better. And so I know that this little studio got a fair offer in terms of money and an extremely good offer in terms of staff. Come in and work for us – they said – we love your work.
I’ll not go on since I wouldn’t like to reveal who and what but there is a very good moral to this story I feel.
Quit your tantrums and just hire the people who created something you envied. Get them on your side.
This is the best advice I ever received from a manager as well. We were working together for some time when I realised he didn’t know something about the job. ‘I don’t have to know’ he said ‘it is your job to know and it is my job to make sure you’ll be able to apply that knowledge here’.
Talking for the creative and comms sector, for which I am working for mainly (mainly for Greek projects), this is what some creative directors should consider. The job of a director or manager is not to only to be responsible but to create the best possible circumstances to get the best out of you and to support that in order to get the best results and of course to find new talent.
If you can’t beat them, join ‘em!