Are you struggling to figure out what your agency really stands for? Do you find yourself developing a new process every time you start a new project? In the fast-paced agency world, knowing who you are and what strategies work for your agency are key to finding success as a team and as an agency.

In this episode we'll cover:

• Why developing processes means increased productivity.
• #1 tip to help your agency survive the tough times.
• 3 benefits transparency in agency leadership.

Today I got to talk to J.P. Holecka. J.P. is the owner of Power Shifter, a digital agency whose goal is to make things simpler. His agency works with start-ups and big brands, including some notable companies like FitBit and Energizer. With a background in film production, J.P. quickly realized how important process and culture are to an agency's success. In today's episode, J.P. discusses how culture helped his agency survive the loss of its biggest client.

Why Developing Processes Means Increased Productivity

Does it feel like your team is constantly running around in circles? Does your environment feel like it is constantly filled with chaos? If so, it might be because you haven't developed a process. What does it look like to develop a process? When you have a process in place everything is repeatable. Rather than figuring out how you are going to approach a project from scratch every single time, you can simply follow the process, saving you and your team time, money, and stress.

Developing a process will look different for everyone. For J.P., he brought in a couple of coaches to help his agency get organized. These coaches focused on the operational side of the house as well as the ad job and helped J.P. develop a system that worked.

#1 Tip to Help Your Agency Survive the Tough Times

Let's face it — business isn't always going to be easy. There will be times where your agency is tested or suffers a loss. For J.P., this moment came when his agency lost its biggest client last year. But rather than destroying the company and putting them out of business, the loss actually made Power Shifter stronger than ever.

The number one thing that helped J.P. and his team make it through this loss was culture. When you have an established culture and know what your company stands for, you'll be equipped to handle times of adversity.

To develop a strong culture, it's important to be clear with your values. What do you stand for and what do you want to achieve? Then, surround yourself with people who have the same beliefs and want the same things.

3 Benefits of Transparency in Agency Leadership

So many times, agency owners are afraid to be open and transparent with their team. Whether it's the fear of sharing too much or losing members of their team, owners have a tendency to hold things closer to the chest. But J.P. says he's seen the benefits of being transparent and plans to develop an open-book management style in the near future. Being transparent with your team can derive many benefits.

• Transparency helps make sure everyone is on the same page. Your team can't get behind you if they don't know where you're going. Don't be afraid to share your goals, your strategies, and even some financials so everyone knows where the agency stands. You'd be surprised how much clarity is gained by being open and honest.
• Transparency helps develop culture. We already know how important culture is to your agency's success. When you're transparent with your team, the ones who want to stay will have your back and the ones who don't will likely leave.
• Transparency promotes teamwork. When you're honest with your team, they're more likely to be honest with you. They'll be apt to share their ideas, offer opinions, and say something when something's not right.

You'll find it difficult to find success as an agency if you and your employees are two separate entities. Transparency can empower individuals and help you come together as a team.

At the end of the day, culture is more than ping pong tables and beer taps, as J.P. likes to say, it's about knowing who you are and having the tools and the faith to survive even the toughest times. If you develop your agency with process, culture, and transparency in mind, you'll be more likely to find success.