Combining the Power of EOS and Agile at Your Agency with Jared Harris
Nov 11, 2018
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Jared Harris, a managing partner at New Perspective, shares insights on how his agency embraced Agile to enhance client project management. He discusses the challenges of transitioning to an agile framework and the role of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) in this evolution. Topics include the significance of daily scrums for team culture, the key roles within Agile marketing teams, and the importance of continuous learning. Jared highlights how improved communication and task optimization have led to better outcomes and client relationships.
Jared discusses how integrating EOS principles facilitated a successful transition to Agile, enhancing productivity and team communication.
The agency learned the significance of a structured hiring pipeline to ensure cultural fit, especially during their agile transformation.
Deep dives
Jared's Journey and Career Transition
Jared's career path took a significant turn when he transitioned from architecture to marketing, joining New Perspective in 2011. Initially, he started as a PPC account manager, managing high-stakes accounts, which provided him with valuable insights into the marketing world. As the company shifted its focus, Jared and his team made the bold move to create a SaaS product for the auto parts industry, although they ultimately had to scrap this initiative due to financial difficulties. This experience led to a pivotal moment in 2014 when Jared discovered the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), prompting a direction change toward utilizing inbound marketing strategies to support manufacturers.
Embracing Agile Methodologies
The agency's transformation into an agile structure marked a turning point in their operations, enhancing productivity and communication. This change was initiated after the team realized that managing client expectations and deliverables was becoming increasingly difficult in a labor-intensive environment. They integrated principles from the book 'Hacking Marketing' and enlisted the help of an agile consultant to train their leadership team. The adoption of agile practices, including daily scrums and weekly retrospectives, led to improved transparency and accountability, allowing team members to better manage their tasks and clearly communicate progress.
Lessons in Hiring and Client Interactions
As the agency grew stronger, the importance of making careful hiring decisions became apparent, especially given the potential negative impact of hasty hires. Jared's team learned the need for a structured hiring pipeline, allowing them to take their time in finding the right fit for their culture and needs. In line with their agile transition, the agency also focused on refining client interactions, especially around the delivery of projects. By implementing a point pricing model, they enabled more straightforward communication with clients regarding deliverables and expectations, leading to smoother operations and less dependency on reactive solutions.
In this episode we're excited to welcome Jared Harris from New Perspective. In our conversation Jared shares how New Perspective made the evolution to Agile for managing their client projects and how implementing the EOS helped them make this shift.