Most Important Skills For A Principal Owner At CEA Strategies
Excellent communication skills—both written and interpersonal—"keeping everybody moving in the same direction"—are crucial, as is the ability to handle a constantly shifting workload and adapt to both short-term and long-term change; this requires flexibility and strategic long-term planning to navigate evolving client needs and market forces.
Communication, Adaptability, Strategic Planning, Problem-Solving, Leadership
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Tracy Campbell
Principal / Owner
CEA Strategies
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
Leadership Certification, UCLA Anderson School of Management
Creative Writing, Journalism
Consulting & Related Professional Services, Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills are crucial for interacting with clients, media, and partners.
2. Adaptability and flexibility are essential for handling the daily changes and unexpected events inherent in agency work.
3. Strategic thinking and long-term planning are necessary for navigating the evolving business environment and ensuring sustained success.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
I will talk about skills and experience. In communications, you need to be an excellent writer and an excellent communicator. This is true for both written and interpersonal communications.
When working with clients, media, or partners, you have to be able to communicate consistently and concisely. You need to keep everyone moving in the same direction towards the vision.
You also have to be adaptable and enjoy variety. My day is filled with different objectives and goals each day. You must be able to wear multiple hats and be okay with change.
You can plot out your day, and every executive does. They make to-do lists and plan who they need to call and what they need to achieve. However, you have to be okay with two types of change.
The first is short-term change, which happens throughout the day. In an agency world like mine, clients call with new information, or they need to change objectives. New business opportunities also arise.
So, how do you flex and adapt to that change? Change is one aspect in the short term, but it's also significant in the long term. Where you start this month or this year will be different from where you are next year.
Environmental forces, business forces, and clients all play a role. Your client contacts come and go, and their financial situations change. You always have to be looking at the short term and being flexible.
At the same time, you must be looking at the long term and building a plan for success.