When I started as public relations director with a school district, I remember having my first “big idea” that I was excited to share. I told my mentor all about it, giving him the pitch that I planned to bring to the rest of the leadership team. I was ambitious, excited, and pretty naive.
After listening to me stumble through the pitch, my mentor, with all the patience in the world said, “What are the questions you’re going to ask the team?” I was a little caught off guard, because I didn’t have any questions. I already had the idea and a plan for how to move forward.
It didn’t take me long to understand the lesson he was imparting. There is tremendous power in asking thoughtful questions and genuinely listening for diverse perspectives, hesitations, and to build context around an idea.
That’s a driving principle that I promised to bring to Herringbone, and frankly one that I think most marketing agencies, leaders, and human beings grossly underestimate. We’re fully committed to bringing great ideas to the table, but our promise is to bring an open mind, to ask thoughtful and challenging questions, and to push each other to do our very best work.
If you think we might be a strong partner, I’d love for you to reach out. Trust me, I have plenty of questions.
– AJ Garcia, Founder
