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When you walk in (or call in) to a hair salon, you have two options. Choose the stylist that you prefer, or have the next available one assigned to you.
Earlier this week, following my post about personal branding while on the clock, I had a conversation on twitter about agencies and personal branding. See where I’m going yet?
From that conversation I came up with the concept of an agency, where the brand signing with the agency is familiar with the personal brands of each employee within that agency, and they are able to hand pick who they want to work on their project.
Then Curtiss Grymala placed the concept perfectly, by comparing it to a hair salon. You can either choose the professional that you already know and who’s abilities you trust, or you can be assigned to the next available employee.
Currently, when brands sign with an agency, they’re signing with the agency as a whole, and are usually assigned to the employees who have the time to take on the account. How the account is handled, and by who it is handled, is entirely up to the agency.
I think that the increased focus on personal brands will change this. Sure, much of the project assignment will still be left up to the agency to determine. If a brand knows of an employee that they’d like to specifically work on their account however, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be allowed to.
The best, hardest working employees, that have established a strong personal brand, will be the ones that receive the opportunities.
Personal branding, will no longer just be important for the unemployed and the self employed…but the professional world as a whole.
I have nothing to back these claims up, other than it just makes sense. What are your thoughts?
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Comments
10.05.09
As someone who's worked in a hair salon, I have to both strongly agree with your post and slap myself for not thinking of it first. The most successful employees at the salon were those who developed relationships with their clients and made sure that they received exactly what they asked for. However, there were always a few who were lackluster in both customer service and quality, who rarely (if ever) had requests.
Great metaphor, David. It's a perfect example of the power of a strong brand.
-Andrew
10.05.09
haha Thanks a lot Andrew. Glad you found it suitable.
It may not be what agencies choose, or want, but it will become inevitable as the reputation of individual employees continue to grow, compared to the brands of their agencies.
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