Savage counsel: It’s okay to be a hard taskmaster

In his monthly Encore column, STW’s Chris Savage answers your career and agency questions. 

Hi Chris,

I recently jumped ship and joined a rival agency and it’s fair to say my reputation precedes me. I suppose you could say I made a name for myself as a hard taskmaster but I’ve done a lot of work in recent years to soften my approach. How can I get my new team to see I’m not the bastard they think I am?

Don’t bother changing anything. Worry less what they think about you: focus more on lifting performance and delivering great results for your new employer.