Drugi jezik na kojem je dostupan ovaj članak: Bosnian
By: Mitja Tuškej, CEO of Direct Media Komunikacije Slovenija
We Slovenians were among the last to enter the system of the Direct Media agencies, at the end of 2011. This does not mean that in the communication business we had no knowledge and many years of experience, on the contrary. With exactly such capital, we brought into the chain new ways of thinking and knowledge. They stemmed from the fact that we were a full service agency in the communication business already at the end of the eighties, which today already sounds a bit prehistoric. We, who have been in business back then, we have an insight into the times that were different, but with commitment and energy invested in brands, customers and business same as today.
Already in 2012 this had brought us in the position to take over part of the initiative in setting up the Direct Media Academy, which was established as an exceptional center of knowledge, teamwork and friendship. What is important is that in the very first year we concluded that the Academy also has a great motivational impact on all who are in any way connected with this program. When I say that the Academy has a motivating effect on everyone, I don’t mean just the participants of the educational program, but all who are working on the preparation of the program and the organization of training. For participants, motivation is built into the principle of working at the Academy. It is divided into three essential parts: the Learn part, where teachers present the essence of the topics of the Academy; the Practice part, where participants work on case studies; and in the Implement part, in which participants are divided into teams, and work on the preparation of specific tasks related on the theme of education, which ultimately they present to everyone. The motivation of the participants is remarkable, dedication simply unbelievable, and the results of work, which can be seen in the presentations of teams, truly phenomenal. Commitment and motivation for work are visible through work in teams, where night hours pose no barrier. Motivation can be seen on the faces during the presentations, especially if the team themselves are not satisfied with the effect of their presentations with other participants of the Academy. Motivation is also evident when diplomas are being awarded for successfully completing the Academy.
There is also exceptional motivation for the lecturers. I will never forget my first Academy! First morning, at 9 a.m., when I stepped in front of the 25 people from Direct Media… In the hall in front of me were also a couple of Belgraders, already prominent and experienced Account Directors. Even today, four years later, I can still see quite clearly their eyes fixed on me. They were clearly sending a message; “Well, let’s see what ‘this guy’ has to tell us!” The fact is that the education system in Direct was already exceptional even before the Academy, many individuals had already listened to the best trainers in the world. This is an embarrassing situation that can throw a lecturer into the area of extremely rapid erection of a wall between himself and the team, which is practically impossible to break later on. It happened to many, and it happened many times We even experienced it at the Academy, when we brought into the team a well-known expert outside of Direct Media! Luckily, I was counting on those gazes, I took them seriously and was prepared to overcome them. With the right words, I managed to catch their attention and their interest. In the first few minutes, their eyes told me something in the sense of: “Wow, interesting, engaging, and worth listening to!” The wall did not raise, and the motivation for preparation of new topics and lectures for next year was – and still is – exceptional!
An anecdote I went through speaks of an extraordinary state of mind, which drives all employees in Direct: knowledge is what is worth, knowledge is the driver of everything, knowledge is the only real way into the future. Knowledge is the foundation of our personal development, development of all offices inside the Direct Media, and even the basis for the success and development of all who work with us, and for whom we work.
With such a state of mind, and with such a strong motivation for acquiring new knowledge, you simply cannot but fall in love with the communications work that you do, and the people you have around you.