{"id":132,"date":"2018-08-12T09:45:00","date_gmt":"2018-08-12T09:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qandle.com\/blog\/?p=132"},"modified":"2024-02-19T14:03:21","modified_gmt":"2024-02-19T14:03:21","slug":"what-lessons-can-we-learn-from-mr-draper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qandle.com\/blog\/what-lessons-can-we-learn-from-mr-draper\/","title":{"rendered":"The Don Draper Leadership Academy: Lessons to Learn"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

While the world of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce is certainly far removed from today\u2019s business and social realities, each of Mad Men<\/em>\u2019s characters carry within them certain principles and ideas innate to their identities, especially Donald Draper. On a closer look these can give us important lessons about the challenges that we might face on a regular basis, from dealing with change to handling unruly subordinates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Don Draper<\/a> isn\u2019t exactly the ideal role model, anybody would find it hard to deny the potency of his charisma and his capacity to motivate and inspire his team and colleagues through sheer talent and determination. It is important for an effective business leader to understand the broad operations and processes that drive commerce and create growth. However, being a successful leader, in the HR function or otherwise, requires not only a critical understanding of the basic principles of business best practices, but also a proactive and strategic development of influence over your organisation. So, what can Mr. Draper teach us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be connected to the outside world.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strong leaders in the field of human resources can understand who the external customer is and how their organization makes money. They try to understand the needs and concerns of the organization\u2019s customer. Donald Draper\u2019s ability to understand the end consumer, their needs and fears, the \u2018happiness\u2019 that they seek, all proved to be pivotal to the success of his agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Develop a Strategic Perspective<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

HR is often criticised for being focused on day-to-day operations instead of having a long-term strategic vision. Great HR leaders understand their organisation\u2019s strategy and vision. As a result, they align their projects and initiatives with the needs of the organisation. Strong leaders can communicate how their programs can strengthen the organisation and also play a role in moving the various employees to adapt and upskill. When SCDP\u2019s leaders decided to take the plunge and create their own agency, they took prompt action and designed a strategy to minimise the potential risk that their actions could end up generating.<\/p>\n\n \n