Every cluster has a flagship. The station at the top of the ratings. The one the market has known by name for years, if not decades. The proverbial “800-pound gorilla.” And then there are the others. Not bad stations. Not forgotten stations. Just the ones that don’t lead the sales pitch.
Sometimes, in a building, those stations can start to feel like supporting cast, or worse yet, the black sheep, if the person running the show isn’t careful. That mistake can lead to lower morale and profit. In our September issue, Radio Ink asked Radio’s Best Managers how they keep smaller or lower-revenue stations in their cluster from feeling like an afterthought.
The answers say as much about leadership as they do about operations:
“Every station has a unique role in serving our audience, our clients, and our company, so I never manage based on revenue alone. I make sure every team has a voice, receives the same coaching and development, and celebrates its wins, because when people feel valued and connected to the mission, they’ll outperform expectations regardless of the size of their station.”
“I have never thought of one of our stations as ‘smaller.’ I believe each station can be the largest revenue station, when done right! My goal is that no person will ever feel that what they do is ‘smaller’ or less significant than anyone else that walks our hallways.”
“Hold them to the exact same standards as the higher-rated stations. Above all, you MUST listen to those stations and be sure your team knows you do.”
Curious about who said what? Radio Ink’s September magazine, featuring Radio’s Best Managers, comes out Monday, September 14. Subscribe today for as low as $3.33 per month. Click HERE to subscribe.
