Significant Career Lesson From A Managing Director At SHIFT Communications
Alan, a Managing Director at SHIFT Communications, emphasizes the crucial lesson of considering "other perspectives," not just within a team but especially understanding clients' mindsets and the context of current events, such as market fluctuations. This involves pausing to analyze situations, choosing helpful responses over immediate reactions, and recognizing that "they probably don't mean the level of snark that they might have had," ultimately promoting positive interactions and effective problem-solving.
Communication, Executive/Leadership, Problem-Solving, Empathy, Client Relations
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Alan Dunton
Managing Director
SHIFT Communications
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
NA
Creative Writing, Journalism
Consulting & Related Professional Services, Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Business Strategy
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Developing empathy and understanding different perspectives is crucial for success. Consider the context and pressures your clients and colleagues face.
2. Responding thoughtfully to challenging situations (such as a snarky email) demonstrates professionalism and builds strong relationships. Try to understand the root cause before reacting.
3. Prioritize being helpful and supportive to navigate difficult circumstances, focusing on collaboration rather than conflict.
Transcript
What is one lesson that you've learned that has proven significant in your career?
The most important lesson I've learned, and it's probably a lesson I continually learn because I usually mess this up, is to be thoughtful about other perspectives. It's not just about personality issues within a team, but understanding the mindset of our clients.
What are they going through in the moment the stock market crashes on a Monday? What does that mean for them if they are at a public company or at a startup? It's going to mean different things, but it's going to be impactful.
So it's having the space to take a step back and think about what's going on in the world and how this is impacting people. How might this be impacting their attitude, their behavior, what they are asking of you, and what they are not asking of you?
At my current role, I have the luxury to be able to take a pause and think through: I just got this snarky email from a client. Do I fire back an equally snarky response, or do I try to think about what they are going through in this particular moment and see how I can be helpful?
They probably don't mean the level of snark that they might have had. They might actually just need some help and are having trouble articulating that, or they are dealing with other stresses that are compounding.
As an agency, we need to be cognizant of that. We need to be human and think about trying to be positive and helping our clients and our colleagues through whatever they might be going through.