I see a lot of posts and comments about toxic agency cultures up here. As CDs and creative leaders what are you doing to change this at your agency?

I try to check my ego at the door and make all the fuss about the ideas and the processes in which they get made. Do that and make a conscientious effort to be the best part of everyone's day, and you hit the target more often than not. The juniors are seeing everything you do, whether they know it or not.

I gave opportunities for anyone under me to be heard. If not in group settings definitely on 1-1s also i was sure to prioritize those 1-1s and not cancel them last minute. If i was going to be late I’d let them know. If anyone under me was working late I was working with them too. If something wasn’t working I was clear on exactly why. Avoiding abstract descriptors. Focusing on the people was as much as the job as the creative itself. Happy, purpose driven workers, that feel understood and heard create good work, or at least grow to create good work.

Not be toxic and take care of my team. Can’t do much if CEO, CCO are the ones perpetuating it though, try to shield them as best as possible.

It starts at the top. I try to embody the type of culture I want to see in my team and organization. Transparency, trust, support, lack of ego, collaboration, etc. When my team sees that in me, they are more likely to follow suit.

Empathy. I check in with my team regularly and make all decisions as a human first, and an agency leader second. I keep tough feedback focused on the work and the fact that we all want to make it better, so let’s figure out together how to get there.

Trying to manufacture good culture is toxic positivity at its finest, so I’m trying to steer our leadership away from anything forced.

Just be a human. Treat people kindly. Be funny. Don’t be a D. Also, some of this generational talent is simply going to react differently and we have to accept that and either evolve, adapt or move on.

I look after the people I manage by checking in with them regularly, giving them praise when they smash it and avoiding micromanaging.

Also I am really passive aggressive. No wait, that’s a bad thing isn’t it

I find that once a place becomes toxic, it is so hard, almost impossible, to make things right again. Once the roots have been poisoned, there’s no amount of watering that can make the plant return to health.

But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. I think in this case open honesty, discuss the toxicity, more mental health days, spend more on freelance so that full timers aren’t as burnt out, create more layers so that more people are insulted from the toxicity.

Lots of skip level meetings and ensuring we collaborate and inspire ALL of our people

Nothing. Things really aren't as bad as all that

Oil pulling.

I try to mind only that of my or my circle's business. I act cordially with everyone, avoiding familiarity since too much of it can take for granted anyone's boundaries, and try to offer a hand when I see someone struggling. I can't say it affects the whole workplace but at least there's a good atmosphere within my own environment.

A former coworker at Momentum Worldwide has some insane stories about one of their current ECDs. Toxic positivity driven by insecurities is probably the worst.

Trying to replace my ECD.