By Keith Brunson
Ever noticed how at your workplace, there is a defined hierarchy? There is the President, the Vice President, The Marketing Director, and the human resources director? Imagine if, on the other hand, you worked in a horizontal business formula. This would mean that while the hierarchy of “who’s who” is understood and respected, the concept of “you report to me” is admonished. It’s the new way that great business leaders are producing corporate results. Because if you don’t operate that way, “it produces horrible results,” says Dr. Hardy Delay, Adjunct Professor at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. This concept of having an open-door opinion policy is exactly how today’s smart business leaders are growing. Creative businesses especially realize that talented people comprise the success of the business. “If you treat people as though you are better than them, that’ll affect their productivity,” says Dr. Delay, who has graduated 1,125 MBA students. “And so nervous people in the work environment have been proven to do less,” says Hardy, “and no one is better than anyone else, but some leaders do not realize the destruction they are causing to the success of their business.”
Dr. Delay, who got his Ph.D. from Walden University in Minneapolis, teaches graduate students business administration with an emphasis on leadership. He also serves as a consultant to Chief Executives who want to improve their business climate and productivity. So, when Dr. Delay enters that business and evaluates what’s wrong. “I tell the CEO; I don’t need to meet with you; I need to speak to the people doing the work.”
Dr. Hardy Delay, Adjunct Professor at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin.
And so, this story is about the positive aspects of “The Horizontal Business Formula,” where everybody from the receptionist to the President walks on equal footing, and there is no entitlement. That’s the environment of no one being afraid to be open about their problems with leadership or internal methodology. This is especially effective when dealing with creative people. The people in the Voice Over Artistry business use this concept with exceptional results. From the owner to the engineer, the actual voice talent to the producer, everyone is a vital component of the success process. “And everyone’s opinion and perspective matter,” says Mike Zirinsky, Chief Executive of Creative Media Design, and its sister company, The Voice Shop. www.voiceshopcoaching.com
Mike Zirinsky, CEO of The Voice Shop, ensures that everyone is heard and participating in the voice over production process.
Dr. Delay comments, “the autocratic leader is destined for low productivity,” and in fact creates a quiet resentment among the esprit de corps of the team. “This new generation will just quit and migrate to a corporate culture that is nurturing,” adds Hardy. This concept was not true in yesteryear. “The BOSS ruled by intimidation, but that formula of business leadership no longer works.” Lead Voice Instructor for The Voice Shop Mike George agrees. To develop good talent, Mike believes in three things. 1. Hire Good People. 2. Give them purpose, and 3. Stay out of their way. Underscore item three because that’s the philosophy of the theme of this story.
Voice coach Mike George teaches voice classes at the Voice Shop in New York City.
Have you seen those corporate ads where “you’ll report to?” Right there and right away, if you are repelled, it’s because you have a talented business personality. Creative people are often Not managed but simply assigned. And this is the concept of “The Horizontal Business Formula.” It’s the format of the chief executive realizing that he is invalid without using the talents of the entire team for the best possible end goal. That type of controlling business owner we’re communicating here can get away with their behavior, but their respect will diminish. And that means that the receptionist is just as important as anyone else. That is to say, the hierarch of the arrogant President of the business probably rules by intimidation rather than positive delegation. And in the world of voice-over, every single person is just as important as everyone one else. There is an interdependence that thrives in the creative world that is absent in the highly corporate world.
Dr. Delay’s philosophy proves that everyone in the company must meet at “eye-level” to be successful and promote creativity.
Because if you, whoever you are, believe that you are more important than anyone else, you’ll fail. Time and time again, you’ll fail at the master plan of success. And that’s because in today’s business, especially the creative business, if a sound engineer feels he is above the voice talent, that sensitive and highly intuitive voice-over talent will pick up on it. They won’t say anything, but they won’t like you at all. And, when you feel the receptionist is “just a secretary,” you are incorrect according to this philosophy. The importance of the first person to answer the phone sets the tone for the incoming caller. So, if you consider your receptionist not important, you are probably a controlling executive who rules with a big stick rather than respect and delegated responsibility. Conversely, if you feel that you as the producer are just as vital as the production assistant, you’re on the right track.
And that’s what this story is about. In voice-over, the boss/employee relationship is somewhat admonished. It doesn’t mean the owner is not in charge, but the way they go about leading is entirely different. It means that they value the many people that are involved in this acutely creative environment. And that’s a recipe for success. It’s a new concept, but few people in leadership understand it. So, the concept of no entitlement excels while the conventional business model will create discord and a lack of harmony.
In the voice-over industry, everyone works together like in a symphony. It is understood that the conductor is leading the music, but he considers the trumpet player just as important as the first violinist. It used to be unheard of, but the Horizontal business formula is used in voice over for a reason. It’s because everyone is important, and no one is “a star.” And if they are, they are smart enough to respect the production assistant because, in truth, everyone in a voice over business respects everyone. And if this kind of work environment is for you, then this story will resonate.
The military operates with this strategy because they must. And in that scenario, people that protect America should and do employ the controlling mindset because they must. The military functions best with rank and file. And in this case, the hierarchy is vital. But in a creative business where emotions are running high and creative minds are everywhere, the smart person gives complete respect to the next person. It’s true. It’s not a myth. It’s an absolute fact.
“Education is paid for in India from kindergarten to high school,” comments Dr. Delay. “So, families experience “the empty stomach syndrome” where a family will literally eat less, to provide an education to their children.” This creates a very academic child who is raised to respect authority, but to think for themselves, not think what they are taught to think,” says Dr. Delay. “And that’s why Asian and Indian students come to America and do so well,” says Delay. “They are taught by two teachers on two different subjects at the same time.” This means that two different subjects are taught in the same classroom at the same time. “And the result is an exceptional student who values education and respects authority, but the teachers have no problem with the student challenging their opinion,” says Hardy. So, if you’re learning this for the first time, you are not alone. “But what it does is it creates a student that grows up to think on their feet and doesn’t need to be micromanaged,” says Dr. Delay. “It makes an intelligent person become an exceptional free thinker.”
And that’s the new movement taking shape now in American business. To be someone who over-delivers without being expected to. “It makes all the difference in the world,” says Dr. Hardy Delay. “To be able to not be nervous” about their comments and suggestions “is the new formula for growing a business.”
