To run a successful marketing agency, leadership goes beyond managing projects and meeting deadlines. It’s about cultivating habits that set you, your team, and the agency up for long-term success. Here are the nine leadership habits that can transform your agency and push it to the next level.
1. Success Through Accountability
Great leaders hold themselves and everyone around them accountable. This is the foundation of success in any business. When you consistently hold yourself and your team to high standards, you build a culture of trust and reliability. Accountability means doing what you say you’ll do and expecting the same from your team. It’s not just about assigning blame when things go wrong—it’s about ensuring that everyone understands their role and delivers on their commitments. By modeling accountability, you inspire your team to take ownership of their responsibilities and consistently produce excellent results.
2. Emotional Intelligence and Control at All Times
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, as well as empathize with others. As a leader, maintaining emotional control in high-pressure situations is key. Your team will look to you for stability, especially during difficult times. Leaders with high emotional intelligence are not only great at managing their own stress but are also adept at helping others navigate challenges. By keeping your emotions in check and responding thoughtfully rather than reacting impulsively, you create an environment where your team feels supported and motivated to perform at their best.
3. Embrace Physical Fitness and Mental Health
A strong leader prioritizes both physical fitness and mental health. Running a marketing agency can be incredibly demanding, and if you’re not taking care of yourself, you won’t have the stamina to lead effectively. Incorporating regular physical activity into your routine helps you manage stress, stay focused, and make better decisions. Likewise, mental health is crucial. Whether through meditation, therapy, or simply taking time to unwind, maintaining mental balance ensures that you’re bringing your best self to the team every day.
4. Disciplined Execution
Leaders who value disciplined execution expect everything to be done the right way—what’s often referred to as “the company way.” These leaders love processes and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) because they create consistency and efficiency. When you have disciplined execution, everyone knows exactly what’s expected of them and how things need to be done. SOPs aren’t just about control; they’re about setting up systems that allow the business to scale without sacrificing quality. By sticking to these processes, you ensure that your agency runs smoothly, and your team knows how to execute tasks with precision.
5. Loving Relationships Are Paramount
The best leaders understand that relationships outside of work are what make the hard work worthwhile. They prioritize building and maintaining loving, healthy relationships with their family and friends. This not only gives them balance but also sets an example for their team. When your team sees that you value time with loved ones and are committed to maintaining that balance, they’re more likely to prioritize their own well-being. Creating this culture of work-life balance helps prevent burnout and fosters loyalty and happiness in your team.
6. Developing Intrapreneurs to Help Run the Business
Exceptional leaders don’t just manage people—they develop them. One of the most powerful leadership habits is fostering intrapreneurs within your organization. These are employees who run their department or team with the mindset of an entrepreneur. By empowering your team members to take ownership of their roles and think like business owners, you’re not only delegating responsibility but also ensuring that the agency grows from within. Encouraging an intrapreneurial spirit helps build a culture of innovation and drives your agency to new heights.
7. Numbers Matter
Successful leaders know that numbers don’t lie. Running the business by the numbers means knowing exactly where the agency stands financially, tracking KPIs, and using data to make informed decisions. Leaders who embrace the numbers can spot inefficiencies early, forecast growth opportunities, and make course corrections before problems escalate. By focusing on the financial health of the agency, you set yourself up for sustainable growth and long-term success.
8. Great Credit Score and Personal Financial Responsibility
Leadership extends beyond the agency—it’s reflected in how you manage your personal life, including your finances. Great leaders have a solid credit score and are personally financially responsible. This habit shows discipline, reliability, and a commitment to sound decision-making. When you lead by example in your personal financial life, it translates into better financial stewardship in the business. Employees will see this level of responsibility and trust your guidance on important financial decisions for the agency.
9. Selling the Business One Day with a Purpose
The best leaders don’t just think about running the business—they plan for the day they’ll sell it. Having the mindset that you want to sell the business one day changes how you run it today. It forces you to put systems in place, build a strong team, and create value that doesn’t depend on you alone. This mindset gives your leadership a sense of purpose and direction. Running the business with the eventual goal of selling ensures that you’re always thinking about long-term growth and sustainability.
Conclusion
Leadership is more than just overseeing day-to-day operations—it’s about cultivating the right habits that will drive your marketing agency to succeed. By focusing on accountability, emotional intelligence, fitness and mental health, disciplined execution, relationships, intrapreneurship, numbers, financial responsibility, and the long-term vision of selling your business, you can lead your agency to greatness. These nine habits will not only transform how you lead but will also empower your team to reach new levels of success.