Avoiding 5 Rookie Mistakes in the Cannabis Industry
“First, do no harm” The Hippocratic Oath
Since joining the legal cannabis industry six years ago (72 in dog years), I’ve learned a lot about enhancing professional growth and leadership.
Step one: avoid self-inflicted wounds.
Whether you are new to the sector or a seasoned veteran, avoiding these 5 rookie mistakes will develop your management skills, demonstrate your commitment, enhance your personal brand and potentially avert your firing:
1. Disregard professionalism
Sadly, behaviors like ghosting, chronic cussing and publicly badmouthing others is rife in our sector. Not only are these habits immature, polarizing and insulting but they also degrade team morale, harm relationships and kibosh business deals. Remember, you are always representing your employer’s brand as well as building your own personal brand.
2. Forget you work in a business
Producing the best product, having a great culture and furthering social justice are all important. However, all of this is for naught If the firm can’t generate meaningful profit over the long term. Always keep your eye on what matters to the people who are paying you.
3. Understand your role
So you've smoked or grown a lot of weed. That’s great but so have thousands of other people in the industry. Your boss is likely seeking other things from you such as role competency, a strong work ethic, problem solving and teamwork.
4. Ignore self-learning
Cannabis is a young, evolving industry with a dearth of quality data. No one has all the answers and humility rules. Staying in your comfort zone or echo chamber will guarantee you aren’t getting the objective, holistic picture not to mention staying abreast of key trends.
5. Don’t be that ‘girl/guy’
Without a doubt, cannabis is a challenging business populated by charlatans and amateurs. If you haven’t been screwed over your industry tenure has been short or you probably haven’t been paying attention. Fight the urge to be the angry, cynical pessimist. Your teammates and manager will appreciate it.
Like it or not, the Cannabis industry is steadily and inexorably professionalizing.
In my opinion (relax, there are exceptions), the most successful cannabis firms also seem to have the most professional staffs and cultures. If you want to be part of a high-performance CPG or pharma-style company, you would be wise to act and look the part.
There's no more excuses
#strategy #mistakes #culture #community #legacy #management