Advice from Seth Godin on Leading Up
This May, Seth Godin graced the stage of CreativeMorning/NewYork to turn our heads on straight because, well, we have it all backwards. On the topic of our monthly theme, “backwards,” Seth gave us three things that we have all wrong:
1. Great designers get great clients. It’s the other way around.
2. Be patient. Patience is for the impatient.
3. Wait for someone to lead. Lead up.
The third one, Seth says, is the topic he gets the most questions about as people hesitate to take control when they don’t have a place to hide. He gives us a few techniques for leading up:
Do it on purpose.
Seth tells us to ask ourselves every day, “How am I leading up?” Lay the tracks to get our clients to be better clients, our boss to be a better boss, and if our boss is unable to be a better boss, leave and find a better one.
Tell stories that resonate with those in charge.
Storytelling is integral to leading up. “You cannot prove anything to get the people you work for to do something,” says Seth, “but you can tell them a story that gets under their skin, that resonates, that they remember.”
Demand responsibility.
…But don’t worry at all about authority. Seth says that we’re a product of the industrial world, and, with that, hold a fear for doing anything beyond our job title. We now live in a bottom-up world, however, and those who take responsibility are often given responsibility.
Reflect credit, but embrace blame.
“Do small things. Do things that won’t get you fired without asking. If they work, let your boss take credit. If they don’t work, take responsibility.”
Take full responsibility when something you do doesn’t work out, he says. And if you do something right, let your boss take credit. The reason? Your boss will continue to come back to you to do those small things again, but maybe this time, bigger. After all..
It’s the work that you’re after, not the credit.
And..
If they don’t get it, go somewhere where they do.
“You don’t get tomorrow over again,” says Seth. “You have one shot. If you want to make change, make it for people who deserve it.”
..But don’t give up too soon, because maybe it’s your fault that they don’t get the joke.
Lastly, Seth explains that no one is going to pick you. That age is over. We now live in a time where everyone has the capability of being their own media company, making the work they want to make for the audience its intended for. You can’t please everyone, so focus on finding that ideal client who identifies with what you’re trying to do.
It’s never been easier for you figure you who your audience is, who you want to change, and why your work will matter.
