Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India on the agency’s way forward in the new normal.
Leadership and leading from the front all the time
The year 2020 and the pandemic has made it clear to most of us what it means to be leaders. No business school or any marketing guru had taught us how to act and behave during such times. Yet it is clear that leaders who stand tall, lead from the front, stay tough internally and calm in the exterior make the difference in the toughest times. 2021 will infact be a far greater test for leaders to not only continue to deliver across all the aspects but also demonstrate astuteness, camaraderie, insightfulness, purpose and a sheer leadership strength to lead from the front.
Business Pragmatism and marrying Ambition
Both go hand in glove. And, it will be far more tougher next year and many subsequent years. While ambition will be to rebound and grow quickly, expand, increase, etc after such a low down of a year, the pragmatism of being careful (not cautious) will override every time. So be aggressive, demanding on goal setting but be clear on the overall forecasting of results and plans and be definitive of a timeline to deliver them (again).
Staying focused, committed and having a motivated team
2021 will challenge our grit, determination and existence further with both hopes (of normalcy resuming) and maybe despair (delay of normalcy). Stick to the task, stay focused and be clear about the way it can be done. Commitment and perseverance are the only way to success and having a strongly motivated team of leaders who are aligned to the vision, the game plan, and the process will be far more crucial than ever.
Be Meaningful – have a purpose
Meaningful brands, stories are here to stay. The pandemic has proven that for sure. It also applies to organisations, companies, individuals. So time to define a purpose – become a meaningful brand that makes a difference internally to all people/ partners and externally to our clients and multiple stakeholders.
People – Product – Pitches – Clients – Culture
People – make the organisation. So stability, transparency and fostering the best quality of talent that is motivated and effective becomes vital.
Product – Sharpening the core offering non-stop and ensuring differentiation so that we stand out as a group of integrated companies while individually exceling in all aspects.
Pitches – Win many more new clients that allow growth, size and build stature. It allows versatility in work, builds reputation, and also attracts the best of talent.
Clients – Clients are our raison d’etre. So, having fabulous honest relationships, understanding them far better, creating work that excels and delivers business results will be on priority.
Culture – Finally encourage a culture of positivism, gender diversity, creative excelling, and one that makes each one proud of the group and the agency they work in.
