Many agencies have multiple generations working in the business. Sometimes, it may be a passing thing -- a summer internship perhaps -- while in other cases, two generations work side-by-side for many years. At some point, the elder generation may decide it is time to retire, or at least slow down. That's exactly what Jonathan Bernstein of Bernstein Crisis Management did. He recently announced that his son, Erik, would be taking over leadership of the family business while he takes a step back from day-to-day management. On this episode of Chats with Chip, both Bernsteins join Chip to talk about the decision to transfer agency leadership, as well as the steps that go in to making it a reality. For any agency looking at succession issues -- but especially those looking to do so within the same family -- this episode is chock full of valuable insights.

Many new PR and marketing agencies start out as "virtual" agencies where everyone works remotely and there is no physical office. But some agencies with their own office space have made the decision to swap leases for the virtual model. Todd Zeigler of The Brick Factory in Washington, DC joins Chip on this episode to talk about how his agency reached the decision to go virtual and what steps they have taken to manage the transition with employees and clients. Todd explains that it wasn't really an overnight process, but rather an evolutionary one that eventually became the blindingly obvious path forward.

There's no need to sugarcoat it. These are challenging times. But agencies can and should continue to engage in business development. It requires a delicate balance, so Chip and Gini address how to thread the needle appropriately to make sure you are meeting the needs of prospects without unnecessarily alienating those who may be less receptive to your message right now.

It's an uncertain time for everyone. Business is disrupted. Personal lives are upended. Fear and anxiety are common feelings. On this episode of the Agency Leadership Podcast, Chip and Gini look at how agencies can and should be handling the situation. There's no one size fits all answer -- it really does depend -- but they have both been through tough times in business and the economy before and they share the lessons they have learned along the way. From staffing to business development, the pair have helpful advice designed to help you get through this challenge and come out stronger on the other side. Even though it's a difficult time, Chip and Gini still try to bring some of their trademark humor to lighten the conversation.

Agencies rely on their people to succeed. Ultimately, agencies are selling labor hours, no matter how much we may all try to price things to obscure that fact. Having the best talent helps make the difference between successful client engagements and those that come up short. But how do you get the quality you want and need? Chip and Gini review the recruiting and hiring process in this episode of the Agency Leadership Podcast. The pair offer tips on how to find the right prospective hires and how to screen them.

A recent question on the PRSA member discussion forum came from a client who was looking for guidance on setting goals for their PR agency. The individual inquired if "3-5% [growth is] fairly standard." Chip and Gini tackled this question, along with the broader topic of aligning agency work with client goals. They also discussed how these goals might factor in to agency compensation.

Guest Mark Babbit

Guest Jeff Munn

Guest Debbie Lynn Grace