Trust the Professionals You Hire
I’m in the midst of a move, and it’s been exhausting. I’m leaving Orlando after 22 years and moving to Tampa, FL. I’m purchasing a house with my boyfriend Steve and we’re very excited.
The process of cleaning out my house after so many years has been emotional and exhausting, but the purge of old files and clutter has been very good for me and my life.
Being involved in selling and purchasing a home is overwhelming. Like many things, there is a language and set of systems used just for this activity, and it’s easy to be intimidated and confused throughout. I have been very lucky to have wonderful realtors and finance professionals helping me all through the process. Without them I would be lost.
One theme that has repeated itself over and over has been the need for me to trust the professionals I have hired. I kept reminding myself that I connected with and hired these particular people because I thought they were great at what they do, and I enjoyed being with them. I needed professionals to hold my hand and patiently walk me through each step of the process. This became particularly important once I realized how emotional all of this would be!
There were numerous times when an important decision had to be made and I decided to simply trust the professional. A change in the sale price, a resolution to a problem, a dicey moment of finance, all of these were overwhelming and confusing. The professionals would calmly and clearly explain to me what their advice was, but saying that the ultimate decision was mine. Sometimes they shared stories of times when other clients refused to take their advice, with varying degrees of success. As stressful as this was, each time I decided to trust the professional, and it always ended up being the right decision.
As with so many things in my life, this reminded me of the marching arts. I could write a book about all the times that a client has refused to take my advice, and what happened next. All of us who are hired as freelance artists to create shows know that we end up getting the blame, no matter what the outcome. Directors have to make difficult decisions, and they are often led by fear. There is a lot on the line, their reputation is at stake, and they often resort to what they know. Of course, this can be frustrating if they hired me because they wanted or needed a change.
I don’t begrudge all of this. It’s a stressful business and they are doing the best they can. But I can also say without hesitation that I KNOW that things would often have gone better if they had taken my advice. I don’t always get it right, but I do have years of experience in my toolbox that I hope they will take advantage of.
So I encourage you to trust the professionals you have hired. Trust that music arranger, trust that drill designer, trust that percussion person, trust that color guard person, and trust that instructor standing in front of your students. You hired them to bring their professional expertise to your program. If it doesn’t go as you hoped, get your staff some training (see this webinar) or make a change. But give them a chance to share all they are and know with you and your students.
Check out this webinar for ideas on how to get more from your staff.
A huge thank you to Linda and Steven and Danielle and Oliver and all the others who have helped me and Steve on our move. I’m almost to the finish line and I am glad I trusted the professionals I hired to guide me through it.
Tim Hinton
September 13, 2022
