by Thembe Khumalo
In the kind of creative space that Brandbuilder operates in, there is never a shortage of ideas. We often think of ourselves as an idea generating machine. The trouble with too many ideas and too much creativity is that you can very quickly end up with nothing but hot air - multiple voices telling multiple wonderful stories, but very little happening on the ground. That makes it really important to have systems for turning those ideas into solutions that clients will be prepared to pay for. That, and a team dynamic that contributes to better results.
One of the most valuable elements for us is the interrogation of proposals by team members with a variety of different views on the subject. The voices around our table range from one 18 year old student who is passionate about social justice to a 58 year old male who has some pretty radical views on the economy, as well as a new mom in her thirties who never seems to sleep but loves everything about digital technology.
Diversity is something we hear a lot about lately, but it is more than just a trend. It is a valuable business tool that enables us to deliver our very best work. A diversity of views helps dispel negative stereotypes and personal biases with regards to people, places, and institutions, keeping us open to challenge and change. If your experience of a service and mine are different, then each of us realizes that our personal experience is not the only experience possible. And we become open to further possibilities. When we bring together people of various backgrounds with different life experiences, we can generate ideas or perspectives that others may not have ever considered or been aware of. This in turn fuels our capacity to generate new, and hopefully better ideas.
Another element we rely on at Brandbuilder is the opportunity to hold one another accountable. This may seem kind of obvious but is so important in delivering on our promises as a team. Sometimes in an organisation people fear negative backlash from those who have more power, and so are afraid to challenge them. More often nowadays, people fear being seen as too tough and not having enough empathy: as a result, they don't call out their peers or those who are perceived to be weaker or more fragile than they are. This can really be a ticket to mediocrity if a leader doesn't step in and make it OK to voice an opinion.
Not only does this help us maintain high standards in quality and delivery times, but it also builds resilience within individual team members. When you regularly receive constructive feedback, you won’t fall apart the day a client rejects your campaign. You will understand that a variety of factors could be at play and you will manage those you can manage and let go of those you can't. You won’t take it as a personal affront because you have practiced taking feedback in a safe space many times.
This week we had one of our youngest team members take on the role of project lead with a prospect that he brought in himself. We didn't get the account in the end, but it was beautiful to see him step up and demonstrate the courage it took to lead.
May all your team members find their voices and enjoy working with those who are different from them. And may it lead to brilliant execution of your best ideas in the coming months.
Thembe Khumalo is one of Zimbabwe’s leading voices when it comes to brand-building, business growth and personal development. A winner of multiple awards both at home and in the region, she is the founder and Managing Director of Brandbuilder, a high-performance brand strategy firm that helps entrepreneurial leaders and SMEs achieve visibility and growth through comprehensive brand strategy, creative execution and social media content strategies. Known for her clarity and courage, Thembe Khumalo’s leadership track record includes board positions in listed, unlisted and not-for-profit entities. With more than 20 years in the media and communication industry, she delivers a network of high-level relationships across many industries in several African countries. | thembekhumalo.com | www.brandtobuild.co | askus@brandtobuild.co
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