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Agency professionals often learn valuable, unexpected lessons from peers, clients and colleagues working in spaces outside of their industry. With the wide variety of organizations agencies partner with, learning about new ideas and approaches from those in seemingly unrelated disciplines can introduce fresh perspectives and novel strategies to help agencies foster innovation.
Below, 20 Forbes Agency Council members share stories of game-changing insights they have gleaned from fields distinct from their own. These stories not only highlight the power of interprofessional thinking and collaboration, but also illuminate ways that embracing diverse influences can lead to transformative outcomes in one’s industry or role.
1. Focusing On The Fundamentals Leads To Growth
My parents got back into the specialty retail game after selling the shop they ran for 40 years. Despite negative macroeconomic trends, they’ve doubled revenue. How? Not by adopting new strategies or tech, but by going back to basics: sound inventory management. The lesson? New technology will always emerge (I’m looking at you, artificial intelligence), but if we aren’t exceptional at the fundamentals, we won’t grow. - Tate Olinghouse, Acxiom
2. Mutual Respect Is A Foundational Value
I started studying hapkido, a hybrid Korean martial art, about two years ago. Our studio’s creed revolves around a foundation of respect, and I have brought this lesson into our agency values. I want to cultivate a place of mutual respect. It is not just about being “professional,” but also showing that we listen, pay attention, are curious about our clients’ and employees’ lives and ask for opinions. - Debra Lutsky, Digital Retail Partners
3. Understanding Human Behavior Benefits Marketers
I had double majors in college, studying new media and sociology. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the sociology component has been extremely useful throughout my career in marketing. Keeping a beat on human behaviors and how they connect with one another and understanding the way people think have all been tools I’ve used throughout my career since graduating. - Amber Ward, Invisible North
4. Every Challenge Has Multiple Solutions
Playing video games taught me that every challenge has multiple solutions. Sometimes, the conventional approach isn’t the most effective. In our agency, we apply this mindset to SEO and advertising, regularly exploring unconventional strategies to outperform the competition and deliver unique solutions for our clients. Experimentation and a continuous improvement mentality are key to our success. - Carlos Trillo, Evinex Corporation
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5. An Anthropological Approach Boosts Outreach Efforts
Applying the concepts of social anthropology to online outreach helps create more successful campaigns. Online communities operate like real-world ones, with social norms, rituals and even language. If you study these audiences as an anthropologist would before engaging them, you’ll have more success and avoid offending them with messages that violate their social expectations. - Kami Watson Huyse, Zoetica
6. You Have To Be Your Own Cheerleader
When the pandemic started and travel stopped, I no longer had an excuse to put off exercising. I started running and have continued daily for more than three years. As it relates to public relations, it has taught me that you have to constantly be your own cheerleader and strive to follow through on all your commitments—no matter how big or small. The best reward is when you surprise yourself. - Emily Porter, Havas Formula
7. Opening Meetings With A ‘Share’ Can Foster Priorities
My clients in mining, construction and heavy equipment open meetings with a “safety share,” which keeps safety top of mind and elevates it to a priority (for obvious reasons). I have encouraged clients in other sectors to borrow this concept when they have something they want to foster as a priority—such as a “creativity share” for a digital agency or a “learning share” for an early-stage tech company. - Beth Noymer Levine, SmartMouth Communications
8. Storytelling That Transcends Language Improves Communication
I once lived in rural Mongolia, far from modern technology and English-speaking people. I learned how to survive in a place where the common language was limited, relying instead on nonverbal cues, context and emotion to communicate. Learning to tell stories that transcend language made me a better communicator with an appreciation for the role emotions play in driving our connections with others. - Katie Schibler Conn, KSA Marketing
9. Look For The Rip Currents; Don’t Fight The Trends
From surfing, I learned not to try to fight the ocean. Use it to your advantage. When paddling out through the surf on big days, find the rip current and let it help you paddle out. It’s faster and easier. Or, if you’re a swimmer and get caught in the rip, don’t fight it. Let it take you past the breakers to the calm water. In business, look for the rip currents. Don’t try to fight the trends. - Michael Parise, DENT Agency LLC
10. Not Everything Is Within Our Control; Be Kind
I learned the hard way when I lost my job that no matter how hard we work or how dedicated we are, not everything is within our control. Treating people with kindness and leading from the heart have been my mottos since that day. It is a lonely job to lead, but extremely rewarding to coach, mentor and grow young leaders to build a positive work culture based on trust, teamwork and authenticity. - Michelle Mekky, Mekky Media Relations, Inc.
11. Creativity And Experimentation Can Lead To Success
An unexpected lesson I learned from my love for cooking is the importance of creativity and experimentation. I leverage this mindset in my role by exploring innovative strategies and solutions, thinking outside the box and embracing calculated risks. This approach has led to fresh perspectives, unique campaigns and successful outcomes, ultimately setting me apart in the industry. - Kenny Tripura, Edkent Media
12. Understanding How Audiences Interpret Messages Is Key
Parenting has taught me more than any industry or role. I learn so much every day, but most relevant to our industry is understanding how what I am communicating is being understood—period. Regardless of the intent of the communication, all that matters is how the audience interprets it and what they understand, so keep that in mind. - Kirsten Ludwig, IN GOOD CO
13. Practicing Creative Writing Reminds Us To Take Our Time
As someone in the B2B marketing industry, my own creative writing practice gives me a useful perspective. Our industry moves fast, but my own writing reminds me to move slowly. I can spend an hour trying to get a certain sentence just right. It’s inefficient. It’s frustrating. But it reminds me that at the end of the day, as marketers, we have an innate desire to move people with words. - Justin Belmont, Prose
14. Human Interaction Is Key To Effective Communications
As part of my role, I get to travel a lot. A lesson I’ve learned from traveling is that human interaction is key. Engaging in conversations with people about life experiences is a powerful tool in communication and marketing. Leveraging not only storytelling, but also listening skills, and incorporating these narratives and personal experiences into what we do allows us to understand and reach our audience better. - Nataliya Andreychuk, Viseven
15. Empathy Is Essential For Building Lasting Connections
I discovered the importance of empathy through my passion for volunteering. This understanding has helped me connect with customers on a deeper level, allowing me to tailor my approach and provide personalized solutions. By actively listening to their needs and concerns, I can offer empathetic support and build lasting relationships. - Jon James, Ignited Results
16. Teamwork And Strategic Collaboration Are Invaluable
Cricket taught me the value of teamwork and strategic collaboration. I embraced collaboration in my industry as players on a team would. Effectively communicating and leveraging strengths and shared objectives led to enhanced productivity, innovative problem-solving and remarkable success in my role. - Hasan Saleem, DSS MEDIA
17. Knowing When To Walk Away Is Priceless
Surprisingly, watching TV shows such as Pawn Stars and American Pickers has given me incredibly useful insights into the art of negotiation. Their tactics of being persistent, shrewdly evaluating and understanding when to concede have helped me enhance the negotiation process in my CEO role in unexpected yet effective ways. Persistence pays off, but knowing when to walk away is priceless. - Danielle Wiley, Sway Group
18. Empathy And Authenticity Lead To Better Understanding
Most of the soft skills I apply in everyday conversations with my teams and clients were actually developed years ago as a bartender in Romania. As an introvert, those interactions with customers taught me how to communicate effectively with diverse groups of people and better understand them with empathy and authenticity. That personal growth has made me a better leader. - Josh Campo, Razorfish
19. Playing Music Teaches Discipline And Instills Confidence
I grew up playing the bass, which has been invaluable for my career. Playing in bands gave me the confidence to be on stage in front of people, which I later applied to public speaking in a professional context. It also taught me discipline, how to collaborate effectively with others and a sense of musicality, which I apply every day to all kinds of writing. - Nathan Miller, Miller Ink, Inc.
20. Color Theory Plays A Pivotal Role In Purchasing Decisions
I gleaned insights into color theory from floral design and photography, which are totally unrelated to my current role. Leveraging this knowledge, we utilize technological advancements to test colors, images, text and full websites to aid in boosting conversion rates. It’s surprising what a pivotal role color theory plays in purchasing decisions. - Danielle West, CAYK Marketing
