Learn the impacts of developing a leader's skills
Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2025 8:41 am
Good leadership is essential for the business world. In a unique environment like that of advertising agencies, this statement is even more powerful. In the midst of a series of collections, last-minute client orders, route changes, financial management setbacks , among other daily challenges, having a good leader who puts everything in order and keeps the team active and motivated is essential.
In fact, this is precisely the difference between a marketing with stockholder database leader and a boss. While the boss figure is usually someone who only wants good results, even if he has to be imposing and sometimes even cruel, the leader inspires others to do their best.
So, it’s easy to understand the impacts of inspirational leadership in agencies, isn’t it? But how to make it a reality? This is what we will explain below. Read on!
What is leadership?
Learn about the types of leadership and their contexts
Discover the characteristics of a good agency leader
What is leadership?
Learn about the impacts of developing a leader's skills
Learn about the types of leadership and their contexts
Discover the characteristics of a good agency leader
What is leadership?
Leadership is an ability, innate or acquired, to inspire others by influencing actions, decisions and behaviors in a positive way. Therefore, the concept refers to a practice that has accompanied humanity throughout history and has been practiced in corporate environments so that leaders and their teams work towards the same goal.
A good leader achieves goals in a smooth and effective manner, without compromising the mental health of those who work alongside him. He is someone who really prepares to be in this position and does not hesitate to turn back if something negatively affects his performance.
Learn about the impacts of developing a leader's skills
Companies, in general, lack good leaders. Many of them are inundated with bosses, which leads to employees becoming irritated, stressed and depressed. Many spend their days complaining about the company without realizing that, in fact, it is the leadership that is failing.
When, on the other hand, leadership is good, the effects are the best possible and reach the most diverse areas. People are not afraid of being in the workplace, but they want to be there. They feel freer to explore creativity . In advertising agencies, above all, this is something very important.
In addition, employees feel respected in their positions and do not hesitate to perform them for growth . They are quick to act and speak, confident that they can and should help at the right times.
Decreased turnover is another advantage in this scenario. In a communications agency , where contact with clients is of great value, it is bad for staff to undergo constant changes.
Anyone who has worked with a client for a long time knows a lot about his or her particularities and wishes, and until someone reaches this same level, it takes time and often has to deal with several complaints in this process.
Good leadership recognizes that it must act fairly, thoughtfully, and without favoritism, and knows that the benefits of doing so are enormous and benefit everyone involved.
Learn about the types of leadership and their contexts
When it comes to leadership, people often forget that there is no one way to be a leader. Everyone does it differently. Some are completely healthy, others not so much.
It is important, however, to understand the types of leadership in order to know how to deal with each one. This also helps to avoid mistakes and to act according to the particularities of each one.
In this regard, this knowledge is also important for people to do self-criticism and work on their points to improve, as well as to further enhance those that stand out positively. Below we list some types of leadership and their main characteristics. Keep track!
Democratic leadership
The democratic leader is someone who works closely with the team and is, in fact, quite accessible. This person is not only concerned with his own opinion and does not believe he owns the truth.
She is generally willing to listen to what others have to say and firmly believes that everyone can contribute to the development and growth of the company and the team.
If there are mistakes along the way, the democratic leader will not look with resentment to find out who the collaborators were who committed them, instilling fear and punishing those responsible, but will instead look for solutions to correct what was done wrong and to ensure that similar situations do not occur again.
This leader also cares about always maintaining a good relationship with everyone, making the workplace much more pleasant, which has a positive impact in many areas, including productivity . Managers who do not understand this type of leader make a serious mistake. Many consider it necessary to dominate by fear and authority, throwing overboard all the good bonds that a democratic leadership is capable of creating.
Technical Leadership
Also called an operational leader, this person is inspiring, like many other types of leaders, but for one reason in particular: his deep technical knowledge. This person shows everyone that he really knows what he is doing, has control over his actions and finds good solutions to the problems that arise.
It is very common for people to follow him because of his good example. Others see how this individual delivers excellent work , the ways he uses to achieve good results and how he acts in an excellent manner, so they want to be and do the same.
This type of leader is a person who is always up to date, aware of the main trends. This way, he can have a broader vision of everything he does. There are many who do not understand the technical leader and demand that he act in a different way, more like a coordinator and less “hands-on.” However, this action takes away one of his best and most attractive qualities.
Liberal Leadership
He is someone who is often not respected by the team. That is because he is a person who is generally indecisive. He does not commit himself too much, he is afraid of making more complex or controversial decisions, he does not impose himself, even in a light and democratic way.
This person is not usually very participative and dumps some or almost all of his responsibilities on the teams. In addition to making them act in something they are often not capable of, he tends to constantly lose authority.
In this scenario, followers feel they have too much freedom and act in a disorderly manner. The leader's lack of guidance negatively impacts everyone's productivity. Managers who don't pay attention to the harm of this type of leadership can see the business, little by little, being harmed by it.
Charismatic leadership
Charisma is a virtually inexplicable trait. People who have this particularity are able to win over others in a profound way, without having to make any effort to do so. They are people who others like without really knowing why and are seen as a good influence, gaining everyone's attention.
Generally, this is a skill that an individual is born with, but it is not impossible to obtain it over time, with dedication and determination. The charismatic leader manages to keep the team always with him, making him a firm and strong ally.
Situational Leadership
Another type of leader who is also quite effective is one who acts according to the requirements of each situation. In this way, he varies his ways of acting to achieve the best results in specific circumstances.
The situational leader also knows how to treat team members according to their particularities, respecting the technical capacity of the members and what they have to offer the company specifically. Many mistakes can be made if this type of leadership is not respected in the company, as a lot of flexibility and autonomy is lost.
360 Degree Leadership
Finally, there is the so-called 360 Degree Leadership . This concept has increasingly proven its importance within companies. This is because a leader who fits this definition is able to influence not only the employees who work directly with him, but everyone who makes up a company.
This person is very inspiring and empathetic, putting themselves in the shoes of professionals who occupy the most diverse functions in the organization. Thus, they motivate and influence everyone from the bosses themselves to the workers in general.
Discover the characteristics of a good agency leader
Now that you know the main types of leadership, it's time to talk about the qualities that stand out among those who run a marketing or advertising agency. These good characteristics are essential for the business to have good results and for employees and clients to feel satisfied.
However, it is important to remember that not everyone has these principles, and they do not all come at once. In many cases, it is necessary to focus on professional growth and continually seek to improve your profile and actions in order to achieve the qualities expected of a good leader.
Some people simply learn by doing. Others, however, focus on studying the subject, reading books on leadership to become more efficient in their daily lives and make fewer mistakes during the learning process. Whatever the moment you find yourself in, knowing what the qualities of a good leader are can help you a lot. Remember, too, that it is always possible to improve leadership .
So, in the specific case of an agency, a good leader has these capabilities:
1. Know how to prioritize
Anyone who works in a marketing or advertising agency knows it all too well: the demands are diverse. They often come at the most unexpected times and can be quite challenging. That's why it's so important to know how to prioritize tasks, understanding which ones really require more urgency and which ones can be left for later.
A good leader does well in this regard. He assesses all the work that needs to be done, what needs more focus at any given time, and does not allow the team to waste time on fruitless actions.
2. He is a good listener
Not giving your team enough attention and credibility is a big mistake. Firstly, because people become demotivated and often even stop doing different work. Secondly, because everyone really has something to contribute.
Great ideas can really be wasted if a leader doesn't have this understanding of how much others also have mastery over what they do and good experiences to pass on.
Even in the daily hustle and bustle of the agency, those in a leadership position must be willing to listen. Of course, in many situations it is not possible to do this immediately or with every demand that arises, but it is essential to set aside time for this.
Another important issue to highlight here has to do with the fact that it is not enough to know what the other person thinks: it is necessary to really evaluate what is being said, analyze all the possibilities of action and know the positive and negative impacts that ideas/suggestions can have.
It is also essential to be open to criticism. A good leader does not see it as something personal, as it often is not, but as an opportunity to do more and better for the agency, correcting mistakes and acting in the right way.
3. Has credibility when it comes to dealing with the team and clients
In a scenario where there is so much talk about fake news, it is necessary to demonstrate that you really know what you are doing. However, more than that, the company's actions must be reliable, based on facts. A good leader not only shows confidence in what he does, but also transmits certainty to employees and clients that the agency is solid, on the right track and has a lot to offer.
Those who do not arouse this type of feeling in others are unlikely to achieve good results. This is because people need to see a leader as someone who is coherent, who knows how to best satisfy their needs and who is willing to act in any adverse circumstances that may arise.
This does not mean, however, that this person will never make a mistake. On the contrary: everyone is susceptible to one or another bad action. This will not affect anyone's credibility. However, to maintain legitimacy it is necessary that the individual act honestly, recognize what he or she did in a way that was not ideal, and be willing to change whatever is necessary so that problems of this type do not occur again.
4. Encourage collaboration across all teams
The environment within an advertising or marketing agency, when not well managed, can be quite hostile. That's because many people get carried away by competitiveness, wanting to stand out even more than the ads and campaigns they create. As a result, the team is completely disunited.
However, especially when it comes to the area of communication, this scenario is quite damaging. For actions to work, it is necessary for several individuals to think together, to analyse together the impacts that can result from them and to contribute their experiences to compose a richer, more creative and more diversified work.
A good leader sees how a situation of low interaction is bad and works to prevent it from becoming entrenched in the agency, in addition to getting everyone to integrate and collaborate with each other. On the other hand, he does all this naturally, without forcing people.
A good way to act in these cases is to show how the team wins when it is united, not only valuing people individually, but showing how work makes a difference when done in an integrated way. A good leader knows how to highlight the most outstanding characteristics of each person without establishing an unhealthy competitiveness.
5. Share knowledge, techniques and skills
Many leaders not only believe they know everything, but they are actually sure of it. They are so sure that their skills are the best that they lock themselves away, do not accept suggestions from anyone and delegate little, centralizing everything.
Furthermore, this type of leader does not like to share what he knows. He is afraid, in some way, of passing on teachings and being surpassed by his collaborators. Yes, he treats his techniques and skills as a treasure that others cannot and should not access.
This is a problem not only for the agency, but for the leader himself. The company no longer has a more homogeneous and capable team and the leader loses by not receiving collaboration from others .
A good leader, on the other hand, not only shares knowledge, techniques and skills, but encourages others to do so. This way, everyone in the agency has the opportunity to level up. The result of the work is much more appropriate and better.
6. Always up to date
Changes in the area of communication happen all the time. What was successful a month ago seems totally outdated today. Strategies that proved to be the most effective a year ago no longer have the same effect today.
All of this has serious impacts on the day-to-day running of an advertising company , which always needs to think of new ways of acting in order to stay and grow in the market . Moreover, only in this way can it serve customers efficiently.
In this scenario, a leader needs to be constantly up to date with what is happening in people's daily lives and in the communication market. He also needs to know about new technologies, how people relate to the various types of content on the Internet, among other aspects.
It is also essential that you have knowledge of the topics that have been discussed the most. This can help you both to have ideas for actions for your clients and to be more precise in your campaigns.
Interpersonal intelligence: learn about this key skill for leadership development
Discover the 7 characteristics of a leader that will ensure success
Take the long way to produce thought leadership content
7. Show motivation
Finally, an essential characteristic of a leader is to show his or her full motivation . Many people are contaminated by the lack of expectations of others, especially if it comes from those who are in charge of the business. Can you imagine if the person running the advertising or marketing agency does not show any kind of motivation for anything?
This, however, should not be forced. It is very easy for others to see that the leader is only pretending to be enthusiastic. Therefore, it is essential that you really get involved in the projects, that you believe in what you do and that you work with confidence .
The day-to-day running of an agency can leave many people feeling tired and unmotivated. Leaders need to help prevent this by showing the relevance of what people do and showing that they can learn and grow a lot in this environment.
However, you can only reach this level if the leader invests in themselves. Not in a selfish way, thinking of having results only for themselves, but in a way that understands their true value within a team and acts accordingly. You need to believe in your own ability and that of the agency for everything to develop as it should.
Good leadership in advertising and marketing agencies can stimulate teams, make them more productive and even more creative. In the world of communications, where there are many challenges, tight deadlines and constant news, having someone balanced and inspiring at the head of the team is essential.
You can learn even more about good leadership and its transformative power by downloading our agency management guide now .
In fact, this is precisely the difference between a marketing with stockholder database leader and a boss. While the boss figure is usually someone who only wants good results, even if he has to be imposing and sometimes even cruel, the leader inspires others to do their best.
So, it’s easy to understand the impacts of inspirational leadership in agencies, isn’t it? But how to make it a reality? This is what we will explain below. Read on!
What is leadership?
Learn about the types of leadership and their contexts
Discover the characteristics of a good agency leader
What is leadership?
Learn about the impacts of developing a leader's skills
Learn about the types of leadership and their contexts
Discover the characteristics of a good agency leader
What is leadership?
Leadership is an ability, innate or acquired, to inspire others by influencing actions, decisions and behaviors in a positive way. Therefore, the concept refers to a practice that has accompanied humanity throughout history and has been practiced in corporate environments so that leaders and their teams work towards the same goal.
A good leader achieves goals in a smooth and effective manner, without compromising the mental health of those who work alongside him. He is someone who really prepares to be in this position and does not hesitate to turn back if something negatively affects his performance.
Learn about the impacts of developing a leader's skills
Companies, in general, lack good leaders. Many of them are inundated with bosses, which leads to employees becoming irritated, stressed and depressed. Many spend their days complaining about the company without realizing that, in fact, it is the leadership that is failing.
When, on the other hand, leadership is good, the effects are the best possible and reach the most diverse areas. People are not afraid of being in the workplace, but they want to be there. They feel freer to explore creativity . In advertising agencies, above all, this is something very important.
In addition, employees feel respected in their positions and do not hesitate to perform them for growth . They are quick to act and speak, confident that they can and should help at the right times.
Decreased turnover is another advantage in this scenario. In a communications agency , where contact with clients is of great value, it is bad for staff to undergo constant changes.
Anyone who has worked with a client for a long time knows a lot about his or her particularities and wishes, and until someone reaches this same level, it takes time and often has to deal with several complaints in this process.
Good leadership recognizes that it must act fairly, thoughtfully, and without favoritism, and knows that the benefits of doing so are enormous and benefit everyone involved.
Learn about the types of leadership and their contexts
When it comes to leadership, people often forget that there is no one way to be a leader. Everyone does it differently. Some are completely healthy, others not so much.
It is important, however, to understand the types of leadership in order to know how to deal with each one. This also helps to avoid mistakes and to act according to the particularities of each one.
In this regard, this knowledge is also important for people to do self-criticism and work on their points to improve, as well as to further enhance those that stand out positively. Below we list some types of leadership and their main characteristics. Keep track!
Democratic leadership
The democratic leader is someone who works closely with the team and is, in fact, quite accessible. This person is not only concerned with his own opinion and does not believe he owns the truth.
She is generally willing to listen to what others have to say and firmly believes that everyone can contribute to the development and growth of the company and the team.
If there are mistakes along the way, the democratic leader will not look with resentment to find out who the collaborators were who committed them, instilling fear and punishing those responsible, but will instead look for solutions to correct what was done wrong and to ensure that similar situations do not occur again.
This leader also cares about always maintaining a good relationship with everyone, making the workplace much more pleasant, which has a positive impact in many areas, including productivity . Managers who do not understand this type of leader make a serious mistake. Many consider it necessary to dominate by fear and authority, throwing overboard all the good bonds that a democratic leadership is capable of creating.
Technical Leadership
Also called an operational leader, this person is inspiring, like many other types of leaders, but for one reason in particular: his deep technical knowledge. This person shows everyone that he really knows what he is doing, has control over his actions and finds good solutions to the problems that arise.
It is very common for people to follow him because of his good example. Others see how this individual delivers excellent work , the ways he uses to achieve good results and how he acts in an excellent manner, so they want to be and do the same.
This type of leader is a person who is always up to date, aware of the main trends. This way, he can have a broader vision of everything he does. There are many who do not understand the technical leader and demand that he act in a different way, more like a coordinator and less “hands-on.” However, this action takes away one of his best and most attractive qualities.
Liberal Leadership
He is someone who is often not respected by the team. That is because he is a person who is generally indecisive. He does not commit himself too much, he is afraid of making more complex or controversial decisions, he does not impose himself, even in a light and democratic way.
This person is not usually very participative and dumps some or almost all of his responsibilities on the teams. In addition to making them act in something they are often not capable of, he tends to constantly lose authority.
In this scenario, followers feel they have too much freedom and act in a disorderly manner. The leader's lack of guidance negatively impacts everyone's productivity. Managers who don't pay attention to the harm of this type of leadership can see the business, little by little, being harmed by it.
Charismatic leadership
Charisma is a virtually inexplicable trait. People who have this particularity are able to win over others in a profound way, without having to make any effort to do so. They are people who others like without really knowing why and are seen as a good influence, gaining everyone's attention.
Generally, this is a skill that an individual is born with, but it is not impossible to obtain it over time, with dedication and determination. The charismatic leader manages to keep the team always with him, making him a firm and strong ally.
Situational Leadership
Another type of leader who is also quite effective is one who acts according to the requirements of each situation. In this way, he varies his ways of acting to achieve the best results in specific circumstances.
The situational leader also knows how to treat team members according to their particularities, respecting the technical capacity of the members and what they have to offer the company specifically. Many mistakes can be made if this type of leadership is not respected in the company, as a lot of flexibility and autonomy is lost.
360 Degree Leadership
Finally, there is the so-called 360 Degree Leadership . This concept has increasingly proven its importance within companies. This is because a leader who fits this definition is able to influence not only the employees who work directly with him, but everyone who makes up a company.
This person is very inspiring and empathetic, putting themselves in the shoes of professionals who occupy the most diverse functions in the organization. Thus, they motivate and influence everyone from the bosses themselves to the workers in general.
Discover the characteristics of a good agency leader
Now that you know the main types of leadership, it's time to talk about the qualities that stand out among those who run a marketing or advertising agency. These good characteristics are essential for the business to have good results and for employees and clients to feel satisfied.
However, it is important to remember that not everyone has these principles, and they do not all come at once. In many cases, it is necessary to focus on professional growth and continually seek to improve your profile and actions in order to achieve the qualities expected of a good leader.
Some people simply learn by doing. Others, however, focus on studying the subject, reading books on leadership to become more efficient in their daily lives and make fewer mistakes during the learning process. Whatever the moment you find yourself in, knowing what the qualities of a good leader are can help you a lot. Remember, too, that it is always possible to improve leadership .
So, in the specific case of an agency, a good leader has these capabilities:
1. Know how to prioritize
Anyone who works in a marketing or advertising agency knows it all too well: the demands are diverse. They often come at the most unexpected times and can be quite challenging. That's why it's so important to know how to prioritize tasks, understanding which ones really require more urgency and which ones can be left for later.
A good leader does well in this regard. He assesses all the work that needs to be done, what needs more focus at any given time, and does not allow the team to waste time on fruitless actions.
2. He is a good listener
Not giving your team enough attention and credibility is a big mistake. Firstly, because people become demotivated and often even stop doing different work. Secondly, because everyone really has something to contribute.
Great ideas can really be wasted if a leader doesn't have this understanding of how much others also have mastery over what they do and good experiences to pass on.
Even in the daily hustle and bustle of the agency, those in a leadership position must be willing to listen. Of course, in many situations it is not possible to do this immediately or with every demand that arises, but it is essential to set aside time for this.
Another important issue to highlight here has to do with the fact that it is not enough to know what the other person thinks: it is necessary to really evaluate what is being said, analyze all the possibilities of action and know the positive and negative impacts that ideas/suggestions can have.
It is also essential to be open to criticism. A good leader does not see it as something personal, as it often is not, but as an opportunity to do more and better for the agency, correcting mistakes and acting in the right way.
3. Has credibility when it comes to dealing with the team and clients
In a scenario where there is so much talk about fake news, it is necessary to demonstrate that you really know what you are doing. However, more than that, the company's actions must be reliable, based on facts. A good leader not only shows confidence in what he does, but also transmits certainty to employees and clients that the agency is solid, on the right track and has a lot to offer.
Those who do not arouse this type of feeling in others are unlikely to achieve good results. This is because people need to see a leader as someone who is coherent, who knows how to best satisfy their needs and who is willing to act in any adverse circumstances that may arise.
This does not mean, however, that this person will never make a mistake. On the contrary: everyone is susceptible to one or another bad action. This will not affect anyone's credibility. However, to maintain legitimacy it is necessary that the individual act honestly, recognize what he or she did in a way that was not ideal, and be willing to change whatever is necessary so that problems of this type do not occur again.
4. Encourage collaboration across all teams
The environment within an advertising or marketing agency, when not well managed, can be quite hostile. That's because many people get carried away by competitiveness, wanting to stand out even more than the ads and campaigns they create. As a result, the team is completely disunited.
However, especially when it comes to the area of communication, this scenario is quite damaging. For actions to work, it is necessary for several individuals to think together, to analyse together the impacts that can result from them and to contribute their experiences to compose a richer, more creative and more diversified work.
A good leader sees how a situation of low interaction is bad and works to prevent it from becoming entrenched in the agency, in addition to getting everyone to integrate and collaborate with each other. On the other hand, he does all this naturally, without forcing people.
A good way to act in these cases is to show how the team wins when it is united, not only valuing people individually, but showing how work makes a difference when done in an integrated way. A good leader knows how to highlight the most outstanding characteristics of each person without establishing an unhealthy competitiveness.
5. Share knowledge, techniques and skills
Many leaders not only believe they know everything, but they are actually sure of it. They are so sure that their skills are the best that they lock themselves away, do not accept suggestions from anyone and delegate little, centralizing everything.
Furthermore, this type of leader does not like to share what he knows. He is afraid, in some way, of passing on teachings and being surpassed by his collaborators. Yes, he treats his techniques and skills as a treasure that others cannot and should not access.
This is a problem not only for the agency, but for the leader himself. The company no longer has a more homogeneous and capable team and the leader loses by not receiving collaboration from others .
A good leader, on the other hand, not only shares knowledge, techniques and skills, but encourages others to do so. This way, everyone in the agency has the opportunity to level up. The result of the work is much more appropriate and better.
6. Always up to date
Changes in the area of communication happen all the time. What was successful a month ago seems totally outdated today. Strategies that proved to be the most effective a year ago no longer have the same effect today.
All of this has serious impacts on the day-to-day running of an advertising company , which always needs to think of new ways of acting in order to stay and grow in the market . Moreover, only in this way can it serve customers efficiently.
In this scenario, a leader needs to be constantly up to date with what is happening in people's daily lives and in the communication market. He also needs to know about new technologies, how people relate to the various types of content on the Internet, among other aspects.
It is also essential that you have knowledge of the topics that have been discussed the most. This can help you both to have ideas for actions for your clients and to be more precise in your campaigns.
Interpersonal intelligence: learn about this key skill for leadership development
Discover the 7 characteristics of a leader that will ensure success
Take the long way to produce thought leadership content
7. Show motivation
Finally, an essential characteristic of a leader is to show his or her full motivation . Many people are contaminated by the lack of expectations of others, especially if it comes from those who are in charge of the business. Can you imagine if the person running the advertising or marketing agency does not show any kind of motivation for anything?
This, however, should not be forced. It is very easy for others to see that the leader is only pretending to be enthusiastic. Therefore, it is essential that you really get involved in the projects, that you believe in what you do and that you work with confidence .
The day-to-day running of an agency can leave many people feeling tired and unmotivated. Leaders need to help prevent this by showing the relevance of what people do and showing that they can learn and grow a lot in this environment.
However, you can only reach this level if the leader invests in themselves. Not in a selfish way, thinking of having results only for themselves, but in a way that understands their true value within a team and acts accordingly. You need to believe in your own ability and that of the agency for everything to develop as it should.
Good leadership in advertising and marketing agencies can stimulate teams, make them more productive and even more creative. In the world of communications, where there are many challenges, tight deadlines and constant news, having someone balanced and inspiring at the head of the team is essential.
You can learn even more about good leadership and its transformative power by downloading our agency management guide now .