Agency execs navigating COVID-19 need to act like true leaders, but prepare for more bad news and potential job cuts
Chris Savage was part of STW (now WPP) as it faced the GFC. And now, in the middle of the impacts of COVID-19 (coronavirus), he shares his headline tips for agencies facing this crisis.
I have been part of teams that successfully led agencies through the 1987 crash, 1990s recession, and tech bubble burst of the early 2000s, and was part of the 4,000 people strong STW (now WPP) following the 2008 global financial crisis (GFC).
And so, faced with another crisis, COVID-19, I wanted to share headlines that may help. Your agency may be doing much of it already. But you may also find an idea or two of value.
Agency executives are fortunate to “be in leadership positions at a time of real need”
Truly inspiring and full of common sense and a total call to empathy.
Sorry I don’t have a leadership role myself you make it sound very appealing and challenging at a far from appealing but possibly our most challenging moment in history.
Love always Jane
Is Chris still the Chairman of The 6AM Agency? It’s not in the byline or mentioned anywhere above, whereas STW is?
I know this is meant well…but lots of the advice given just feels smug, privileged and incredibly old-fashioned.
So – I think Chris is saying – work alongside your team for phases 1&2, ‘motivate’ them to bring you lots of revenue, but still fire the dull twits in phase 3. But hey – at least do it in a ‘compassionate’ way that lets them down easy (whatever the hell that is).
No.
This is an 80s, outdated, dinosaur way to treat people that perpetuates everything that is likely to change about the world when it finally gets to the other side of this doubtless long nightmare.
Any worthwhile guide to going in to this crisis should at least take account of what the world might actually be like at the point we get out of it. This guide assumes the status quo ante.
I doubt – and hope – that’s correct.,
Nathan
Nathan – thanks! Are you able to share what your crystal ball shows in terms of what it all looks like when we ‘get out of it.’? And any ideas of what to do in the meanwhile? My view is that sharing IDEAS right now is the right thing to do. I certainly accept they won’t be for everyone, though am heartened by the tsunami of messages I have received from around the world appreciating the positive intent. Also, for the energy and hope sharing these ideas have injected into some heavy hearts. Clearly yours is not one of them! Fair enough! Big (virtual) hug.
Tyrannosaurus Savage
Hey Chris. Reading your piece once again, there are of course plenty of terrific and helpful ideas in there too. I probably should have pointed that out rather than just ranting about the part I didn’t buy into as much. I guess we should all try and pull together more these days – me included. Online hug back at you! N
All good, Nathan. Thank you. What I love and respect is people sharing their thinking, and putting their names to it (as you did), rather than hiding and trolling. This is a time for debating and banter. And when we’ve done our ranting (I am an infamous ranter as you know), to come together as you suggest. But ranting is GOOD and I respect anyone who makes the effort to say what they think, and put their name against it, and then to hug and move on. Take care!
Thank you Chris for this great piece.
I had your exact crisis plan already in my head, I just didn’t know it until I read your article. So thank you for that clarity.
As an owner of a tiny PR agency, I hope that I am showing leadership, compassion and empathy as you have outlined to my small team.
Some very sensible ideas, but crisis management? This is everyday management for all agencies. The industry has been in crisis for quite some time. Downsizing and forgoing pay rises is the norm.
I love the way Chris actually reads and responds, impressive!
Great article Chris. I’ve been there too through those recessions and the GFC and managed our agency through it using exactly the approach you advise. Agree with that glass of wine idea too, to treat yourself to something nice for yourself at the end of each hard day – for me it’s a Margaret River Chardonnay!
Chris Savage was not the founder of Ogilvy PR as per your caption.
Ogilvy PR was established 10 years before Chris Savage was even in PR and was stunningly successful way before he was ever involved in the Company, so much so that at one stage this division was outperforming the profits of the Sydney & Melbourne mainstream advertising offices of Ogilvy & Mather.
The PR division of Ogilvy was established in 1985 when Ogilvy & Mather under the management of Michael Ball acquired Melbourne based PR Company Weston Communications owned by me.
We then acquired Doughty Communications in Sydney a Company that was owned by Martin Dougherty and within one year we became THE #3 PR Group in Australia behind IPR and Burson Marsteller.
Maybe Chris likes to believe he founded Ogilvy PR, but he didn’t.
My name was missing from the above post.
anything red for me, Robyn! Take care. Chris