There’s Always That One Person …

Many of us have some unusual stories about getting fired in this business. I certainly do. I was working at a station doing evenings. I'd come to the station by recommendation of the national Program Director. And because of that, the local Program Director thought I was a spy for the national PD. His paranoia got the best of him, and he went to the General Manager to vent. I’m not sure what he said, but it was clear he wanted me gone. Well, the GM couldn’t do anything without following protocol by letting the national PD know about the situation.

I Did Not Know …
Being a good politician, two weeks later the national PD came to town. At this point I still didn’t know what was going on. The national PD told the GM that he thought maybe the station needed a couple more tweaks. So, he set in motion for the afternoon guy to exit too. And it so happened he was a friend of the local PD who wanted me out. So, the afternoon guy and I were both out the door and neither of us had done anything wrong.

The national PD told me the whole story later. The good news was that he was able to place me on another station within the chain.

Here's a Program Director stuck in the crosshairs of a situation:

PD: I'm trying to decide if I want to stay here or not. I was copied on a three-page memo about the music we just put in after a music test. The sales manager must be on his usual crusade to get back at the COO by going to the owner and complaining that I don't know what I'm doing.

Coach: Getting back at the COO?

PD: The COO and I have worked together a couple of times in our careers, and he hired me to come here.

Coach: Gotcha, now fill me so I can try and understand the dynamics of the situation.

PD: We're an AC. The COO used to own stations, he programmed, and he also used to be an on-air personality too. He met the owner when he still owned stations. He had retired, and he and his wife were traveling, playing tennis, and enjoying their grand kids. This is an independent owner with four stations in the cluster. He ran into some problems with the stations, and he talked his buddy into coming here and being the COO.

Coach: So, what's the story on the sales manager?

PD: He used to work at an ad agency in Chicago. This cluster was a part of the territory he covered. The owner talked him into coming here 12 years ago, pretty much same way that he talked his buddy in into coming here 15 years ago. The owner who is also his own general manager. As the story goes, the owner did not consult with the COO before he hired this sales manager.

Coach: Are you guys PPM or diary market?

PD: It’s a PPM market. But anyway, like I was saying, the COO was trying to shoulder things to shield me. I've become the sales manager’s whipping boy because he does not like the COO. I told the COO thanks, but don't worry I can deal with the sales manager.

Coach: Wow, this is like a bunch of little kids on the playground in a kickball fight. I’m curious, how old is the owner, COO, and the sales manager?

PD: The owner and the COO are in their 60s and the sales manager in his 50s. And I'm in my 40s.

Coach: How do you get along with everyone else around there?

PD: For the two years I've been here, I've had no problems with anyone else. One of the other PDs told me that he had heard the sales manager was still mad because someone he recommended didn't get my job.

Coach: That would explain the problem. Your sales manager sounds like a big baby. How are the ratings?

PD: They've been pretty good. I've just been making some tweaks to our music library.

Coach: Do you have a family?

PD: Yes, my wife and a boy and a girl, both are teenagers.

Coach: My advice is to hang in there. You’re a pro, keep your cool and stay out of any confrontations with the sales manager. Based on what you have said, he's the only person who seems to have issues with you. I’m taking a guess, but the sales manager must be good at what he does or else the owner would not put up with his attitude. So, unless you get on a management Zoom call one day and you find out the COO is leaving, stay put.

PD: I'll keep you posted.

Coach: Please do.

Do What You Must …
You don’t have to like the people you work with. But you do have to stay in control of yourself and deal with issues and office politics. Do it in whatever way that keeps the station moving forward, stabilizes the ratings, and keeps the peace.