Learning How to Be a Boss with Ali Manning (#106)

It takes a great deal of effort to find the right person to help
with your art business, so you want to get it right. That means you
need to find a way to retain good team members. You want them to
take ownership in your business and pride in the work they do on
your behalf. You may not be thinking about this from the beginning
of the relationship with a new team member because you're so
focused on getting the help you need fast. But you absolutely
should be thinking about it: How do I keep good people on my team?

In this episode of The Art Biz, I talk with Ali Manning about the
responsibilities she feels as the person in charge of her
business, including the responsibilities she has to team members.
We discuss her membership-based business model, the dynamics
between team members, how she hires, when and why she hires
employees instead of contractors, and how she keeps team members
happy. We also get into the hiring mistakes that both of us have
made in the past—freely admitting that it was our fault, not the
employees.


Highlights




The ah-ha moment in Ali’s art journey. (2:45)




How does Ali make money in her art business? (6:25)




Running a business with 1,500 members requires the help of
several assistants. (10:15)




The key difference between employees and contracted help.
(12:27)




Bringing your team together regularly starts with a weekly
meeting and the right technology. (15:09)




You might be surprised at where you can find the right help.
(19:07)




Hiring mistakes and how to correct them quickly. (24:15)




Tests and onboarding processes that can smooth out the new
hire process. (28:56)




Clearly defined business processes and procedures will help
your team members succeed. (31:35)




Your assistant can’t actually read your mind, but taking
these steps can help them out. (34:06)




Keeping your employees—and keeping them happy. (38:46)




A peek at Ali’s upcoming launch. (42:41)




Mentioned




Kolbe A Index




Loom




Asana




Upwork




The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace




Resources




Show notes, images, and listener comments




Grow Your List program at Art Biz Success




Free e-course: 31 People Who Can Help Sell Your Art




Quotes




“From a business standpoint, I want to be able to offer my
help a secure job. It’s important to me that they’re
invested.” — Ali Manning




“With as many moving parts as I keep in my brain, it’s no
wonder that I needed some help with this stuff.” — Ali
Manning




“It’s important to slow down, take a step back and really
think about what you want and how you would like your
assistant to do it.” — Ali Manning




 


Guest Bio


Ali Manning creates bindings that showcase the stitching and the
handcrafted nature of books. Her mixed media books are inspired
by the forests of New England and the gardens of her home country
England.


Working from her studio in a converted textile mill in
Massachusetts, Ali has taught thousands of students via her blog,
Vintage Page Designs, in person and with her latest online
adventure, The Handmade Book Club. Teaching others to express
their creativity through handmade books is her greatest joy. She
believes that anyone can create a handmade book and it shouldn’t
require expensive tools or equipment. Ali's work has been
featured in Somerset Studio, Take Ten, Paper Crafts Magazine and
Cloth, Paper, Scissors.


First posted: https://artbizsuccess.com/being-boss-podcast