Barry Hearn's rule was "If you're old enough, you're good enough". I have modified it here.
5. If you’re good enough, you’re qualified to do the job
Which brings me to a question that nobody ever really thinks to ask -
"Where do brand managers and brand leaders really come from?"
There has been an interesting phenomenon in North America and other regions where very qualified, very capable people are never given a second look because they are viewed as "not industry people", and the few people to break into the business from outside and move up the ladder then refuse to consider the possibility of others from "outside" the industry as possible candidates. i.e. they forget where they came from. They forget that at one time they were "outside" the business but someone saw something in them, took a chance and they learned the business.
Now, in fairness, I say this as someone who was inside the industry, and now resides between several sectors - the press, independent consultant, and brand manager/representative. But what never ceases to amaze me is that brands continue to hire the same sort of person who, inevitably, is replaced by another "same sort of person". This is easily understood when you look at it from a greater distance -
fear. Fear of failure, fear of making a mistake. Fear of perhaps proving that "they" (the people inside the industry who took a chance on you) made a mistake on hiring someone from outside the industry (you). To put it into a sports metaphor - it is playing not to lose, rather than playing to win.
The thing is, everyone needs to start somewhere. And someone who is good at sales is not necessarily someone that is going to be a good manager. Or as is often the case, someone who was at best "safe" at sales.
So watch industry, consider this possibility when reviewing candidates - if they're good enough, they're qualified to do the job.
5. If you’re good enough, you’re qualified to do the job
Which brings me to a question that nobody ever really thinks to ask -
"Where do brand managers and brand leaders really come from?"
There has been an interesting phenomenon in North America and other regions where very qualified, very capable people are never given a second look because they are viewed as "not industry people", and the few people to break into the business from outside and move up the ladder then refuse to consider the possibility of others from "outside" the industry as possible candidates. i.e. they forget where they came from. They forget that at one time they were "outside" the business but someone saw something in them, took a chance and they learned the business.
Now, in fairness, I say this as someone who was inside the industry, and now resides between several sectors - the press, independent consultant, and brand manager/representative. But what never ceases to amaze me is that brands continue to hire the same sort of person who, inevitably, is replaced by another "same sort of person". This is easily understood when you look at it from a greater distance -
fear. Fear of failure, fear of making a mistake. Fear of perhaps proving that "they" (the people inside the industry who took a chance on you) made a mistake on hiring someone from outside the industry (you). To put it into a sports metaphor - it is playing not to lose, rather than playing to win.
The thing is, everyone needs to start somewhere. And someone who is good at sales is not necessarily someone that is going to be a good manager. Or as is often the case, someone who was at best "safe" at sales.
So watch industry, consider this possibility when reviewing candidates - if they're good enough, they're qualified to do the job.
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