Mike Wolfsohn, an adman in Los Angelas, used the TV show “Project Runway” to compare creative direction styles of two of the main contributors for the show.

It isn’t about fashion.

It isn’t about being a creative director.

It is about leading teams, motivating people, and removing ego.

Read it for yourself and hopefully, it challenges you as much as it has challenged me.

What ‘Project Runway’ Can Teach Agency Creative Directors
Posted by Mike Wolfsohn on 04.15.10 @ 03:31 PM

Watching “Project Runway” may not make you the next Diane Von Furstenberg, but it could help you in your quest to become the next Dan Wieden. I admit, I tune in occasionally on Thursday nights at 10 o’clock. In a matter of an hour, one can observe many of the dos and don’ts of being an agency creative director — as exhibited by celebrity judges Tim Gunn and designer Michael Kors, respectively.

While Tim’s best known for his catchphrases, he is also the consummate creative director on the show (and likely in his role as chief creative officer for Liz Claiborne).

Here’s why:

• He never imposes his own taste on the contestants. Rather, he tends to celebrate sensibilities that are different than his own. In essence, he doesn’t ask, “Do I like this?” but instead focuses on what really matters in both the fashion world and in the marketing world: whether the target audience will like it. Maintaining objectivity is a special and important skill.

• He doesn’t dictate solutions. Gunn doesn’t say, “Make this red, make this longer and make this fuller.” He says, “I’m not sure this color is right; we’re seeing an awful lot of skin here, and I’m concerned there may not be enough volume in this area.” Following that up with his trademark “Make it work” is simply his way of saying, “It’s up to you to find solutions you’re comfortable with, ones that still allow you to express your distinct creative style.”

• He maintains his composure. Sometimes we forget that emotions are contagious in a creative environment. When the leader appears confident, everyone is confident; when the leader appears panicked, everyone panics. Whether delivering glowing praise or harsh criticism, Tim never loses his cool — a good lesson for those hot-tempered top creatives in adland.

In contrast, fashion designer (and “Project Runway” judge) Michael Kors constantly demonstrates what not to do as a creative director.

• He’s lazy. We see Kors donning the same t-shirt and blazer on every show (hello, black turtlenecked creatives). He claims it’s because he spent so many years worrying about his attire that he’s earned the right to stop trying. But making excuses for being uninspired is, itself, uninspiring.

• He’s destructive, not constructive. It’s easy to say, “That dress looks like a garbage bag,” or “Those pants look like they’re from an M.C. Hammer video.” It’s much more difficult — and much more valuable — to explain where a designer went wrong and what he or she could have done differently to achieve a better result.

• He rests on his reputation. Like so many ad agency creative directors, Kors seems to be thinking, “I’ve accomplished a lot in my career, so even if I say something meaningless, people will think it’s brilliant.” He fails to recognize that having achieved success doesn’t necessarily qualify him to help others do the same.

The “Project Runway” finale is quickly approaching, but I’ve already picked my winner. Tim Gunn, a fitting role model for any creative director, is in. Michael Kors, you’re out. Auf Wiedersehen!!

Whether I was working under a great or poor leader or leading a team of my own, I have kept a watchful eye on the styles of leadership and what I’ve found/seen to be effective.

These are the lessons I have learned on leadership:

Create Ownership:
Leadership isn’t about your personal win or taking all the credit for a winning project. Leadership is about allowing your team to tackle projects by using their diverse background(s) and gifts to complete the task. My objective shouldn’t be to create work-a-bees or “yes” men. I need to find a balance between driving my agenda and definitions of a project and allowing individuals to utilize/express their gifts and talents even if it is in a way that is unconventional to me. Although I may be ultimately responsible for the outcome of a project or as task, I may not always be right in how a project should be done.

Opportunity: Have team members pick their area of ownership and take responsibility for it. Set goals and a time frame then participate with them not as boss but as contributor.

Build Community:
At a minimum of five days per week and eight hours per day, I am asking someone to partner with me to help accomplish the objectives and goals of my company or organization. With nearly half of the week spent working, I need to create opportunities for community because, in general, a person is more likely to produce results when they feel connected to their environment and their teammates.

Opportunity: Holiday parties and get-togethers are just half of it, how can we design our environment to foster relationships? Self expression is key (Think of Etsy’s office) and having an area where your team can take breaks that doesn’t resemble a doctor’s waiting office is a great start!

Actively Listen:
I recently completed a certificate in professional writing and for a large percentage of one of the classes we talked about the challenge of delivering bad news in writing. As much as you would like to always say “yes” in leadership you are often required to say “no” to disappointed teammates. The key to writing a successful “no” letter was making it clear you took the time to hear what was said, looked into the problem carefully and unfortunately this (“no”) was the conclusion . The reason why this is so key is because when someone is receiving this bad news if they feel you heard what they had to say, the rejection has less of a burn.

Another reason to actively listen is to learn what the person is really saying. Between all of the words, what is the bottom line? We are creatures of purpose and everything we do or say is our attempt to accomplish some kind of agenda or personal goal. What is your client, boss, assistant really saying? The majority of the time there is more to the story and if we can listen and work to gain understanding we can get on the same page a lot sooner. It is amazing if you begin to actively listen what you can learn from another person too!

Opportunity: Instead of formulating a response when in a conversation, listen to what is being said. A short pause before giving a response never hurt anyone!

Stay Positive:
Did you know, you can deliver bad news, you can say something needs improvement, you can even tell someone you hate their work… It is just how you say it. By paying attention to your syntax and the connotation of your words, you will find immediate improvement. It isn’t about being everyone’s friend or filling your language with fluff but removing the heated language from our vocabulary. Also, I’m a problem solver so when something doesn’t work out, instead of being negative I immediately start looking for a new solution. If I stay in an attitude of negativity I am creating an environment of hostility.

Opportunity: Watch your words and also any passive aggressive statements.

Over the last several months I have been making some observations about leadership and I would have to agree with the later answer:  Leadership can be both built and born.

As a “Doer,” I was born to take charge, initiate, and lead.  However, I have discovered through personal experience, a leader isn’t defined, or even qualified by, the loudness of his or her voice or how controlling he or she may be at any given time. Instead, the measure of a leader is defined by the people who are willing to follow that individual. I heard once if you think you are leading and you look behind you and no one is following, you are just taking a walk.  I believe the ability to gain followership, and then move people to action is truly the definition of a leader.  Can that skill be born?  Perhaps, but more importantly–and a relief to many—I believe leadership is something that be learned if fostered over time.

I have spent a lot of time thinking about what it takes to be a leader and how I can effectively motivated/move a team to success. My ponderings have led to some insights I believe are important for any emerging leader and worthy to be shared with interested readers.  I am coming out of hibernation to use this post and the next to share “The Lessons I Have Learned on Leadership.”

As always stay tuned and if you have missed my wit (don’t blame you) you can keep updated with my happenings @danidotnoah.

I completely agreed with her frustrations but struggle with the options: tweet mindlessly or tweet purposely.

Danielle Noah
Awesome Expert

That is what my business card should say. When it comes to all things “awesome” I have more experience than Barney Stenson. I have been taught to limit my “awesomeness” so that people are not overwhelmed. Who are we kidding, I often have to tone down my personality so people can tell that I am smart and not just silly. But this conversation with my sister got me thinking that as a whole people are afraid to be themselves. In order to get followers they must show how much they read and how smart they are in order to be interesting 24/7.

What would happen if our social media streams reflected our daily happenings?

No one wants to know if you are brushing your teeth or going to bed but what if your daily habits took on a new spin. The powerful twitterer is someone who can make the normal new.

I thought I needed to compartmentalize my life. What I’m reading went to my tumbler. My personal life went to my blogspot. My business life when to my website. Facebook got old friends and twitter new friends. In the end, no one has the full picture except me and my family.

This is what I have decided: If you are reading an interesting article or book, share it! But if you are just living your life, take note of your surroundings and bring something new to the table. Your intelligence won’t be proved by tweeting more business articles than @guykawasaki, it will be in living life and finding it interesting.

But when it comes to making a difference, we don’t make the time or perhaps we fear we don’t really count in the grand scheme of life.  Is it possible that my generation is a generation of benchwarmers?  Are we perfecting standing on the sidelines for the game of our lives?

It is difficult for me as a young professional to be the rookie. My responsibilities are often unglamorous and unnoticed. I recently received some recommendations on LinkedIn that filled me with delight. Although both individuals were generous with their praise, I appreciated that they saw the time and effort that I put into my work.

For more recommendations or to add me as a contact: http://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellenoah

Our program is similar to what Stickybits is doing for the individual except that not only were we application based but also SMS and email based since not everyone owns a smartphone. Stickybits is an iphone/android application that uses a reader to capture a barcode that can relay any sort of information.

Example:

If you were to download the smartphone application and take a picture of that barcode you would have instant access to a copy of my online resume.  [Recruiters, please take this opportunity to contact me now!]

Why is this beneficial to you?

Cell phones, although they are a considered a luxury, are seen as a necessity. Some absurdly large number (80%, I believe) of people read a text message within 3 minutes of receiving it. Having mobile communications is a way of life, with smartphones the preferred platform.

Ultimately this creates a unique opportunity to get your message read.

How you can use it, types of messaging and which program is better:

Stickybits and barcode/snaptag systems can be published anywhere!

For the individual and fan:

-       websites, business cards, stickers…

-       secret messages, attached files, interactive notes

-       Stickybits; free system, easy to activate and use

For the “bargain” seeking business:

-       websites, business cards, stickers, fliers, window decals, packaging, emailers…

-       Coupons, downloadable files

-       Stickybits to start and get your feet wet since it is free. Spyderlink would be next step.

For the consumer minded businesses:

-       Anywhere, everywhere! See above for examples

-       Coupons, downloadable files, interactive messaging (Polls, questions, quizzes),  opportunity to join mailing or sms lists, VIP programs.

-       Spyderlink: this program comes at a minimal cost and allows for interaction. It also gathers information on your interactions to give insight and loyalty programs. Because it can be paired with SMS and email you are basically creating a database for your mobile consumers. What you are paying for is the opportunity to have a conversation not just a download! Also, stickybits is reader based which means that in order for an interaction to occur the application must be downloaded first as opposed to Spyderlink which can be sent via picture message, text message or email.

My main points of interest were rub on mustaches, polaroids of me being silly, and hints of blue to contrast the cardboard brown.

At first, I wanted to hand draw each card but after #1 (of 16 total) was completed my night was almost over with! Instead I redid my hand drawing in photoshop for a much easier and efficient card! I still wanted some personal touch and drew my signature doodles on the “thank you” portion of the card to help add texture.

Next process was to take all of my polaroids. I am not foolish to think I was the only candidate being talked to so I knew I had to get my mug back in their memory and paired with my name. This had me enlisting my mom for a mock photoshoot where I took fabric I bought two years ago to add touches to my old apartment and made it into a back drop. Then with my handy mustache necklace and 16 awkwardly goofy poses I was all set! The mock ups for this card seemed like a great idea and until I had 16 pictures smiling back at me on the kitchen counter. I promise I love myself only a respectable amount!

Finally, I glued and taped it all together. Wrote a unique note to each individual, stuffed it in an envelope and sealed it with a kiss. Ok, I didn’t really seal it with a kiss… that would be creepy! But I did hand deliver it to the company with wishful thoughts.

To top it all off, I decided I liked my final outcome so much that I redesigned my twitter account to match!

I was first introduced to that term by a former flame when I was talking with him about my interest in many aspects of marketing [design, media, PR, accounts, photography] and how I am studying at multiple universities to round out those skillsets. He replied snidely with a “jack of all trades but a master of none” remark. As irritated as that made me, since then it has encouraged me to seek out my focus. Although, to my credit, the previous studying and practicing I have done has helped me greatly today. [So, HA! former flame.]

When I take a look at some of my favorite hobbies, websites, time wasters, interests, skills, and ideas there are common themes:

Technology – For Christmas and birthdays I have always begged, borrowed and bartered for gadgets.

Digital – I have been on the internet since 1996 and AOL’s gift of 50 hours of free usage. At the time, I had no clue how I would use up all of those hours and now the idea of paying for a program such as AOL seems archaic!

Interaction – I am a social bug and need to make every instance a party. If  I don’t talk I am just storing up my words to bore you with later.

Innovation – If it’s new and shiny I want to know about it… better yet, I want to own it and be an expert at it.

I am relatively young and moldable but I can say, with much confidence, my future lies in marketing communications focused primarily within a consumer’s digital and mobile platforms with an emphasis on emerging social media. This focus changed nearly a year ago when I started working with Bay Area News Group on their mobile campaigns and in my research/ planning discovered the possibilities in reaching consumers through their mobile devices.

However, the key is creating a conversation. How can we create adverts that engage consumers and encourage them to interact? Whether they are using a cell phone, camera, printer, reader, car… we have consumers attention, our goal is how to keep it. As technology enhances so do the possibilities. I am SO excited, are you?

What are some common themes from your life that define who you are now or where you want to go? Do you have a schtick?

In the past not a single post could escape my personality but hardly any have told you what is going on in my life, offline. Currently this new blog is in creation and an appended update will soon follow at the end of this post where if you are interested, you are welcome to join me in the discussion. The site you are on now will continue to be the epicenter for my advertising/marketing related posts and you are always welcome to visit my side project blogs:

DANIdotNOAH [Relevant and interesting articles, videos and pictures from my daily readings]

Boys with Bowties [We all have our types, originally created because of a youtube video but has morphed into a compilation of the male prep scene]

Not In A Million [Names are removed to protect the innocent but no bad pick up line can go unnoticed.]

**Update**

You can now find this personal blog at http://andbubblegum.blogspot.com/