questioning, praising, teaching, providing information. Without
respect, the employee is less likely to listen or hear guidance.
Knowing he is respected, he will be better able to become
involved, share insights and take risks.Case Study ...........................................................................................................
Chris Early is the creative director for a growing advertising
agency. The agency’s three top accounts have requested urgent
attention to large and unexpected projects — each of which is due
about the same time.
After discussing the situation with the agency president, Chris
calls a Friday morning meeting with his art directors, his copy
chiefs and the account executives for each of the three projects. In
that meeting, Chris asks each account executive to explain the
project needs and goals and answer any questions that Chris’s key
people might have. After the meeting, Chris orders in pizza and
spends the rest of the afternoon with his leadership team,
brainstorming scheduling options, personnel requirements and
potential stumbling blocks to meeting the triple deadline.
On Monday morning, Chris calls a meeting of the entire
17-person creative department, in which he announces the
upcoming projects. He introduces the three creative directors who
will head each project, who in turn outline their project specifics:
the teams selected for each as well as the projected timetables.
Chris closes the hourlong meeting by distributing a handout
outlining and discussing the goals of each project and the benefits
to the agency, as well as announcing the department “awards”
picnic that will take place when the projects are completed.
Over the next five weeks of project activity, Chris meets
regularly with each project leader and account executive to review
progress and any special challenges or difficulties. He attends
weekly team meetings, where project leaders and team members
on each of the three projects evaluate completed project phases
and anticipate possible problems.
When one of the computer illustrators becomes ill, Chris fills
in for him until he can return two days later.1 Coaching, Mentoring and Managing
C A S E S T U D Y