The secret of many a man’s success in the world resides in his insight into the moods of men and his tact in dealing with them. — G. Holland

One of the most exciting aspects of my role as a producer is getting to know the different personalities and quirks of every person I work with. On the client side, sure, but even more so on the team side. Producers have to interact daily with designers, developers, strategists, account directors, and know what each of them need in order to be productive and feel motivated. This can be a challenge within the first couple of weeks, but eventually, of course, you are pretty much besties with everyone and they all love you and do as you say and buy you tons of treats. Well… sort of.  The following is definitely taking from my experience and my own management style, but there are of course, a myriad of ways to effectively manage a team.

There’s this thin line producers must walk constantly between delegating responsibilities, mandating deadlines and being personable. Along with a generally cheerful disposition, it’s important to take note of what management style is needed in a particular situation. Some people will need constant reminders, so in addition to that calendar invite, you also need to send an email, message them on chat, and even walk over to their desk five minutes before the meeting letting them know it’s happening. They may say “What meeting?! Why isn’t on my calendar!?” to which, you smile, point to where it is and continue about your day. There is absolutely no reason to become irate or take this personally. Then there’s that person you can mention something to once in passing, and they will be there ten minutes before start time, with a print-out of notes they have prepared a week earlier. It’s a balance. Some need reassurance, so you reassure them. Others like their ego stroked, so you tell them how amazing their work is. When you take the work you do seriously, but not yourself, it becomes that much easier to effectively mesh well with everyone. It’s not about bending over backwards to accommodate every single need, it’s about knowing what it takes to get things done while keeping people happy. A blend of manager, nurturer, and charmer.

As a producer, you are also the first in the line of defense. Any time something goes wrong, it’s the producer (or sometimes, account director) that hears or reads about it in an urgent email. I’ve seen PMs who immediately react to negative feedback by lashing out at their team, or projecting the same tone and level of intensity of the client. Bad approach. The attitude the producer has towards the work, the client, the feedback, and the team – can directly effect production. Being frantic, stressed, and upset will only make those you work with feel the same way. As I always tell my friends, “Just chill, baby girl, chill.” (Yes, even guys) Remaining level headed and calm makes a world of difference. As “ New Age” as it sounds, people can feel vibes and energy, and it can seriously mess things all up.

Much of the role of a producer is to absorb the blows, deal with them quietly, and then come up with the best strategy when communicating with the team. Being able to protect your team and remain positive is a crucial component to this job. You also need to be able to separate the important information to what can be left out. Developers, for instance, do not need to see the long winded email a client sends describing a bug on a site. What they do need, though, is to know what the bug is, what browser and version the person was using, and the priority of the item. Respond to the client assuring them all will be fine, while logging the bug in your QA tool (Pivotal Tracker, what what!) of choice. A designer, doesn’t need to know the backstory of why your client has a deep personal connection with the colors grey and purple. But, do tell them the few color schemes the client has agreed to, allow them the freedom to make decisions, and give them space to do their work. (Seriously, I never met a designer who liked someone standing over their shoulder making suggestions as they start a design.)

Opposite rule for positive feedback. Since many times, the producer is the closest to the client, they will hear all the praise and excitement directed towards the team. Don’t hold back and be sure to pass that along to those who worked on the account. It will be appreciated, and it boosts morale. Take notice of how faces light up next time a client is on speakerphone commending a job well done.

Not to brag, but one thing I noticed pretty much immediately at Carrot is the lack of negative, surly attitudes. It’s refreshing and makes for a truly collaborative team environment. One sour grape could ruin the dynamic of an agency completely. A producer who is negative and controlling could be detrimental to the success of a campaign. Resenting a manager eventually could lead to resentment of the client and project. That, in turn, won’t churn out passionate work or successful results. A manager who can adapt to meet the needs of each person on their team, will have a much easier time in the working relationship. Plus, more invites to hang once the day is over. It wouldn’t be very fun to be the only person not invited to after work beers. I, for one, am all about after work beers.

Now this wouldn’t be a complete blog post if I didn’t give you some insight as to what I’ve learned about a few (lucky and randomly-selected) Carrots, so… without further ado, here’s an intimate sneak peek:

Chris, Chief Product Officer: Extremely passionate. A perfectionist that sometimes needs 87 reminders for a meeting. Prefers tasks and milestones logged in Basecamp. Likes to talk things out rather than write them. His wireframes are the most elegant I’ve ever seen. Responds well to compliments.

Tom, Developer: Focused, intuitive, and sharp. Likes tasks to be logged in Pivotal Tracker and gets excited over the velocity of a project. Extremely organized, and sometimes will record tasks himself. Works late nights when necessary and doesn’t ever complain about it. Responds well to after-work invites, especially if beer and/or a live show is involved.

Jen, Strategist: Can assess a situation quickly and come up with a smart strategy on the spot. Not afraid to let you know when she needs multiple reminders—“Seriously, bug me until I get this to you.” Gives you whatever you need for the client in a well-organized and gorgeously-presented format. Knows a website or app for the new idea you think you just came up with. Responds (extremely) well to compliments. She’s a fantastic writer and dresses really, really well.

Kyle, Director of Technology: Confession: I, at first, was intimidated by Kyle’s professionalism and depth of knowledge. That intimidation has since evolved into profound respect and admiration. Can think of a smart solution to pretty much any client request. Able to communicate very effectively to both his dev team and clients. Sometimes doesn’t get/see the meeting invites, so another email is appreciated. Responds well to Sriracha.

Adam, Lead Producer: Producer extraordinaire. Positive, assertive, and pleasant—all at the same time. Encourages and supports the whole team. Plays devil’s advocate really well and helps people expand their line of thinking. Remembers his deadlines, as well as everyone else’s (even on projects he’s not working on). Hates when a Chipotle trip takes place after he’s already eaten lunch. Responds well to organization and funny animal videos (or pics or, actually, anything funny in general).

Curious about anyone else? Drop me a line!