If You Like Being Mediocre — Don’t Read This

0

Cam Maxwell is the Regional General Manager for Connoisseur Media in Billings, MT. He’s also been chosen as one of Radio Ink’s Best Managers for 2017 and will be profiled in the October 9 issue of Radio Ink Magazine. The 29-year radio veteran (22 as a manager) has a lot of fans that work for him. Here’s what one of his employees told Radio Ink: “One of the most amazing managers I’ve gotten to work for. He truly cares about his staff and clients. He will go to any lengths for those around him in need and is a man of his word. Anytime I’ve needed help creating ideas for clients, he has always made the time to brainstorm and he always has great ideas. He’s one of a kind and a manager that I’m proud to work for.”

Here’s our extended interview with one of Radio’s Best Managers Connoisseur Media’s Cam Maxwell

Radio Ink: How have you been able to achieve the success you have so far in radio?
Cam Maxwell: I love what I do and I feel this has been the driving force in my career. I’m a big believer in leading by example, and have spent years learning as much as possible about every department. By understanding all aspects of the operation, decisions can be made with a more global approach, which help the overall management of the cluster.

Radio Ink: Who mentored you, and what did they do to help you succeed?
Cam Maxwell: I’ve been incredibly lucky to have worked with some of the best broadcasters in the business throughout my career. To pick just one is difficult, but Michael O’Shea saw leadership qualities in me and encouraged me to push hard to achieve my goal of becoming a successful GM. He mentored me through small and major markets, and I’m beyond words to describe my respect for him.

Radio Ink: What do you expect from the people you manage?
Cam Maxwell: My team knows that I’ll never ask them to do something that I’m unwilling to do. I expect transparent, honest, and creative communication. All employees are of equal value and treated as such. I’ve always told people that they’ll receive the exact level of respect from me as I’m given.

Radio Ink: When do you know you have a great employee who has the potential to become a manager?
Cam Maxwell: When I see an employee helping others in the building succeed. When that person sees a job that needs done and does it without being asked, or without seeking acknowledgment of completing the task. That employee also does more than is required of them, whether it’s one extra sales call, an extra piece of production, or coming in on a weekend to get billing out on time.

Radio Ink: What is the number one challenge you face every day as a manager, and how are you overcoming it?
Cam Maxwell: Complacency. It’s easy for a staff to become comfortable with results. I strive every day to help my employees push the bar higher. If we don’t aim high we’ll never accomplish necessary growth.

Radio Ink: Tell us what your biggest/most proud moment at the station or cluster was over the past 12 months.
Cam Maxwell: We decided to help families with their back-to-school needs. It seems every year, more and more families struggle with the hundreds of dollars required to get the kids ready. We gave away 1,000 quality backpacks stuffed with supplies on a sunny August Saturday. After an estimated 5,000 people showed up we instantly decided that next year we’ll do several thousand backpacks!

Radio Ink: What does it take to be a strong and successful manager in radio today?
Cam Maxwell: Beyond the obvious skillset required, strong and successful managers need to be accessible. Accessible to all employees, clients, civic organizations, community leaders, etc. Involvement in the community and in peoples’ lives is the secret ingredient that, unfortunately, is overlooked far too often by managers.

Reach out to Cam Maxwell to congratulate him on being on of Radio’s Best Managers at [email protected]. And subscribe to Radio Ink in time to receive this issue downloaded to your digital device by CLICKING HERE

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here