Sasko Bosilkovski – Investment Director – Carat Sydney
Careers are always a learning curve and we are always constantly learning/growing. Below are 6 things I have learnt that has helped me to be better than I used to be:
Surrounding yourself with positive people
It's important that you surround yourself with positive people, be it friends, family members, and work colleagues. People's vibes, mindsets, and beliefs will become your own. We are like chameleons latching onto what is around us.
Surround yourself with people who will help you to take your life to the next level, by changing your environment you can help improve yourself. I’m fortunate enough to have a brother who is a successful CEO / Founder who is always positive and providing valuable feedback which I use for self-improvement.
Become the best you can be
The goal is not to be better than anyone else, but to be better than you used to be.
Always hold on to hope and build the belief that you can continue improving. It’s really important that you are able to continue pushing no matter where you are in your life, and keep pursuing and chasing opportunities you want. It’s the nature of success that you do not give up in the face of failure.
American psychologist, Carol Dweck , explained when students believe they can get smarter, they understand that effort makes them stronger. Therefore, they put in extra time and energy, and that leads to higher achievement.
We lift each other up
Every successful brand needs a strong narrative, a story which it conveys people to support it. The very best agencies build this belief into their communication processes and reinforce the value contributed by every member of staff.
It requires belief in leadership that talent can be developed through hard work, strong strategies, and support from others. This belief must start at the top. Leaders must have a hunger to do better and must make people feel safe as they try new things. They must emphasise purpose, encourage participation, accept failure and express appreciation.
By having faith in people or in your team, you are showcasing their ability as being great and smart. They’ll grow, gain confidence, build strong cultures and relationships. By lifting each other up our teams build trust within each other, show commitment, embrace accountability and focus on delivering results.
Share your knowledge
Wherever it’s gained, either from here or there, it’s important to spread knowledge. It seems to be a challenge for people to share enough information they have. But those that are able to do this well are able to work better as a team, and to improve as a collective.
A leader and a team - it’s a symbiotic partnership, with the team having to have faith in the leader’s abilities, while the leader requires accurate and trust to keep delivering results.
Mistakes equal experience
It’s important to understand that failure leads to success and while we may not be proud of those moments, they are necessary for learning.
We learn through failure. People always make mistakes. I’ve made mistakes throughout my career and was very hard on myself until I realised that it’s a way to learn, and gain experience.
Be open to learning, failing and growing as an individual. Be willing to experiment, take educated risks and try again if not successful. Always seek opportunities to be challenged and to challenge your team. Focus on bringing the team together, inspiring and encouraging them.
You can look back and find something to complain about or look forward and keep improving.
We team as one
An important component of leadership is to consciously and aggressively question and allow for the questioning of existing practices. When leaders or middle managers use the phrase “That’s the way we do things around here,” Freek Vermeulen of London Business School notes, “it’s an instant clue that you’ve found a bad habit that needs to stop.”
It goes without saying that leaders never quit. Every successful team and leader always show relentless determination to win and a belief that hard work is the foundation of any worthwhile achievement.
The importance of teamwork is significant - by having the right people is an agency’s/ team’s greatest asset. From my last article “Strong Culture. Two words that have become synonymous with agency land” A leader that invests time into staff/teams building strong relationships builds a strong culture, which sets everyone up for success and growth.
Think about when you next win new business, that you’ll see the most effective individuals/teams in the agency and how everyone fits in the puzzle.