Size Matters – Rearview Mirrors And Windshields

For some of us, it’s been an emotional couple of weeks. Label and radio staff reductions, station clusters being sold and format flips, they seem to come in waves, especially staff reductions. Two groups have been affected - those who have been “reduced” and those left behind to pick up the slack.

Having been one who experienced both, I know the feeling. I’ve been one of those doing more with less on several occasions and, three years ago, I was at the reduction end. I learned very some lessons very quickly.

First, DO NOT look back, as easy as it will be. Look forward! This may take some long walks (jogs in my case), long talks with close friends and loved ones, and some “alone” time to purge the thoughts of the past. Don’t harbor any ill feelings moving ahead. They will hold you back.

Secondly, create a solid plan and move forward, starting with determining your “calling” – why you are on this earth. This is key to any plans you make, and I’m not talking about your profession. From my experience, I’d highly recommend reading two books – “Called Out” by former ABC News anchor Paula Faris and “Leadershift” by John C. Maxwell. Both changed my life, literally. I learned that my identity was more than my job, and was prompted to ask the three questions that are required to find your “calling.” 1) What am I really good at? 2) What do my mentors and friends TELL me I’m good at? And the most important one, 3) What am I most passionate about?

Once you nail that down, it’s time to get moving forward. Your calling could be something totally unrelated to the business. That doesn’t matter. Once you know, go after it with the exuberance of an Olympic athlete!

I zeroed in on my calling after the books, and reading back over the emails I had received the day I was let go. Most referred to one attribute – mentoring. My passion has always been coaching. I coached football and baseball throughout my young adult life. I have mentored some talent through the years, and I knew that was my “calling” – to teach, to mentor.

I worked back from there to assemble my plan and now, three years later, I have a thriving business and it’s the happiest I have ever been. That’s what finding your calling does for you.

Thirdly, do everything you can to market what you do. Gee, do you think that this column is part of that for me? Let friends and business colleagues know what you’re doing. Get on socials, LinkedIn, create a web site – whatever you can do to get your name out, do it. Through the process stay calm, take some deep breaths, and realize this takes some time. My business didn’t start chugging along for about a year. Be patient, but focused.

Now – how about those left behind at the station cluster or label to fill in the gaps? If you’re a GM, label head, programmer and/or station leader, this is the most crucial time for to stay focused and do what you were hired to do – LEAD! Do take a little time to grieve the loss of colleagues with your staff, with emphasis on “little.” Get what’s remaining of your staff together immediately or soon thereafter. If you have syndicated shows and out-of-market voice-trackers, you MUST include them. This should be the first of a series of staff gatherings as you move forward. Once a week, twice per month, whatever works. Communication is key from here on.

Next, point your staff AWAY from the past reductions, etc., and, most of all, away from ill feelings about higher-ups. This starts with you. If you are focused forward, your staff will most surely follow. Good chance you were already aware of the staff cuts, so you should have a basic plan ready to discuss with the staff. They need to be involved in setting the full plan regarding job responsibilities, timelines, etc. ALWAYS focus forwardand not back.

This is reality for both groups. If you’re trying to figure what’s next for you or how to navigate the daily operation of a station cluster or label, it takes maximum courage and understanding to face the current facts and know that there is nothing you can do to go back to the way it was.

Someone sent this quote to me three years ago and it has stuck: “There is a reason your windshield is so big and the rearview mirror so small. We’re not meant to go back.” In this case, size DOES really matter.

Onward, upward and, most of all, forward!

“Taking Your Radio Presence To The Next Level. Be it an artist, radio programmer or on-air talent. Coaching and mentoring down to your foundational level”

Contact me:
John Shomby
Owner/CEO Country’s Radio Coach
jshomby@countrysradiocoach.com
757-323-1460
https://countrysradiocoach.com