5 IMPORTANT BUSINESS TIPS BY ANNA WINTOUR
One of the most famous and most powerful women in the fashion world has been at the top of the industry for over 30 years...
One of the most famous and most powerful women in the fashion world has been at the top of the industry for over 30 years, and these 5 tips are the key to her success.
Books and films, both documentary and fictional, have been written about Anna Wintour over the past decades, and this successful businesswoman has inspired countless articles and spearheaded changes in the fashion industry. As a woman at the very top of her industry, she did not always encounter the most positive comments (which would certainly not be addressed to a man in the same position), but despite everything, her success proves that one should not always pay attention to other people's opinions, because her vision is very clear.
Her longtime collaborator Andre Leon Talley in his memoir ‘The Chiffon Trenches’ also shared that in Anne’s opinion no good meeting lasts longer than 8 minutes and if it is longer than 15, it is a sign that something is seriously wrong. Success is not accidental and does not come overnight, and in order to stay on top and always up to date, Anna Wintour adheres to these 5 principles:
1. STAND BEHIND YOUR VISION
Build your vision so that others can understand and support it. Although Anna Wintour considers diplomacy a good tool, she promotes clear expression of views and determination. Once you are committed to your vision, you will be a better manager. ‘Indecision can be worse than a wrong decision,’ Anna Wintour explained in her Masterclass. The brand should be the focus of all decisions and it is necessary to decide in which direction it will evolve. This also refers to a clear vision - the leader should answer the question of what a brand is, and not define it only what it is not.
2. BE THE LEADER OF CHANGE
Sometimes it will be necessary to make some bold decisions, which will not necessarily be popular, but Anna says that you should not be afraid, even if you make seemingly 'wrong' choices that stimulate discussion and lead to change: 'Statistics can't tell you everything. You can't build an audience through statistics - it comes through creative talent ', claims Wintour and points out that real leaders do not follow statistics but anticipate trends.
3. BUILD FUTURE INDUSTRY LEADERS
As a person at the top of the fashion industry, Anna Wintour strived to raise a new generation of young designers through her work, thus shaping the future of the industry, but also adding a new dimension to her work. There is nothing better for a leader than to pass on his knowledge to someone and bring all the potential to the surface from a talented person. Forget envy and restraint because true leaders are so confident that they have no problem being surrounded by young, successful people. On the contrary, they want to make the best versions of them.
4. FORM A DIFFERENT TEAM
When looking for collaborators, contrary to expectations, she is not interested in what they wear but what they do in their free time - what are their hobbies, what books they read… She tries to form a diverse team that will cover different topics and perspectives, and when she finds people she trusts, gives them a lot of autonomy and avoids micromanaging.
5. STAY INFORMED
No matter what your job is, Anna Wintour advises keeping your ears and eyes open, and keeping an eye on what's going on in the world. She also emphasizes the importance of curiosity and openness: "Spend as much time as possible getting creative incentives such as reading books, going to the theater, walking".
