By: Kerry Tropeano
Without getting too “philosophical,” Aristotle first coined a term that dates all the way back to ancient Greece. “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
And how can you forget “teamwork makes the dream work.”
OK – I know what you are thinking, enough with the coined phrases. And while I get your point, I think we all should get this point – in business today, having a strong team is the most essential ingredient to success.
Today’s media landscape is changing. Clients’ needs are changing. For us to continue to deliver value, Thompson & Bender has needed to evolve. According to Forbes “Agencies that will outlast the current dynamic market shift need to start looking at every employee as a thinker and a doer – a creator who is part inventive problem-solver and part imaginative-maker.”
At Thompson & Bender, we have more than 30 years of experience with a range of specialty disciplines — public relations, media planning and buying, creative and branding services, lead generation and customer acquisition and event planning and support. So, we basically do it all. But how do we build the perfect dream team that’s specific to each client?
“Teamwork is the ability to work together towards a common vision. The ability to direct individual
accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results,” Andrew Carnegie.
We create teams of individuals that have complementary skills. Each one of our teams are custom designed to fulfill each one of our clients’ objectives. We utilize each member’s specialized strengths and experience to accomplish a common goal. Gone are the days of generalists wearing multiple hats; now we have a team of specialists each performing a specific function, elevating the overall quality of work.
Within the team, it is essential to keep order and workflow moving in the right direction.
Every team has individuals playing different roles. It’s imperative that each person be an expert at their core responsibility. In football, there is only one quarterback, but there are 10 other players on the field who each play an essential role towards achieving success.
Each client receives some combination of the following:
- Team Lead – This is the quarterback, able to see the whole field and ensure that everything and everyone is operating smoothly. They are your brand’s strategist and are focusing on the big picture while confirming that all team members are clear on the ultimate vision.
- Producer – In today’s world, content is king and your producer is the person creating that content. What kind of content? Copy, creative, video, social imagery and more. It can be overwhelming. The producer is highly focused on quality and accuracy but more importantly developing a voice that is authentic to your company.
- Distributor – They execute the content. Where, when and in what fashion is that content distributed. They are responsible for getting your initiatives in front of the eyes of current and new customers across multiple platforms.
Our client teams are intentionally small. It keeps the company nimble and innovative as we manage projects. Having a small team allows for knowledge to be easily shared and actionable. We are not the agency that waits around for answers…we are the agency that gives the answers.
So, what does this all mean for you – the client?
As the great Henry Ford once said: “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.”
Let’s move forward together.
