Essential Management – Anthony Wilson – RIP

Anthony Wilson is missed in Manchester, missed because he had an opinion. He was generous, warm, funny, welcoming and could polarise a room within seconds. He was outspoken, able to expand a grain of truth to the size of a zeppelin, and yet retain a humility that won him countless friends. He coined the legend, Manchester is as important as Renaissance Florence, which we all had to live up to. He brought the best people he could to the action, put himself on the line time after time and created the music convention In the City with Yvette Livesey so that he could make the rest of the world music industry come to Manchester rather than Cannes. Above all, he was also a champion for youth culture: a truly remarkable man.

When the news came that Anthony had lost his fight against cancer I couldnt believe it. I still think I will see him with his mad Weimaraner dog walking across the City centre. Sometimes when he was holding forth you sensed a slightly ludicrous cartoon being drawn, but he always had this irritating quality of being right and presenting the idea so you would remember it. Only Anthony would think of packaging an album in sandpaper so that the surrounding album covers literally withered in its path. It was the simple, direct and completely honest communication style that set him apart, almost Zen-like in his connection. Of course, he also swore like a wounded pirate, which was endearing and you remembered his point.

Legacy

So what is Anthony Wilsons management legacy? Well, I think its very clear that management never really entered his head, but if you want to understand leadership, talent and risk, he had some remarkable traits that are relevant to us, particularly in the arts, and they are worth reflecting on. I think it is true of real leaders that they have a level of humility that, whilst being extraordinary in their roles, they are somehow still trying to become qualified for the job. Its something I have seen in great musicians too. For all Anthonys looking over his spectacles and big headedness there was actually a far more likeable person just beneath.

He was also accessible. Whenever he was at In the City or when he was out in Manchester, or promoting the city he loved, he never turned people down. He heard them out graciously but was always ready to be combative if he thought they werent trying hard. His acceptance of his own mistakes was also important; he would have been the first one to say that not everything he did worked, but his resilience, his ability to learn and try again, his optimism and hope were key leadership traits. Always look forward never look back, was a catchphrase that he used a lot. He was a voracious reader of all kinds of books, and his view of what he was doing came from a very wide understanding; he always viewed life on the large scale.

Generous spirit

When I think about it now, I firmly believe that Anthony saw Manchester as the company he worked for, the five million or so people who make up Greater Manchester in some bizarre extended family. In reading and presenting it should also be said that whilst the swearing could mislead the timid, he was also very articulate when called upon; his presentation skills were extremely well honed. Supporting others in their endeavours was also crucial to his approach  he did spot talent incredibly well. Paul Morley, who he drafted in to chart the rise of northern music in the 1980s, Peter Saville who has gone on to define an entire genre of design, Rob Gretton and the whole Joy Division/New Order/Hacienda adventure. His generosity of spirit and support for others didn't stop at his own projects; I know from my own activities in Manchester that Anthony went beyond professional boundaries, cheering you on if he thought you were risk taking.

Be passionate

The final key trait and the one I think that shone through the whole Factory, Hacienda, Manchester saga was Anthonys passion. He taught me that it is good to be passionate about the city you live in. Passion for what you believe in is a quality I dont see outside religion these days. The power of persuasion comes from that passion; you were prepared to suspend disbelief whilst he gave you the Wilson world view and usually you came away with a new insight. He didnt judge you on whether or not you agreed with him  although that was generally a good thing  he just wanted to hear you being just as passionate back. So when people ask whats the difference between management and leadership the correct answer is Tony Wilson.

There is one other quality to Anthony Wilson that should not be ignored and that was his absolute belief in the energy and vital nature of music. I only knew him in the last ten years of his life, but the very idea of putting on In the City was about creating a massive showcase for talent. All year round demo tapes, discs and MP3s would be fired into the In the City office and each autumn hundreds of bands would be gathered around the pubs, clubs and bars in the Northern Quarter in Manchester in pursuit of A&R talent spotters. The good news is In the City 2007 is going ahead and if your business is music-related I would encourage you to support it. There are only two important annual events in the North West  the Grand National and In the City and they both involve gambling. If you want to understand how youth culture and music can animate a place its experiential learning of the best sort.

Howard Raynor is Managing Director of World Class Service Ltd. t: 0161 456 6007; m: 07808 299954; e: [email protected]; w: http://www.worldclassservice.co.uk.

Anthony Wilson – record label owner, broadcaster, journalist, pop impresario and nightclub founder – died on 10 August, aged 57. In the City runs from 20 to 22 October 2007. w: http://www.inthecity.co.uk

Anthony Wilson's Leadership Traits – Vision – Humility – Accessibility – Acceptance of own mistakes – Views life on a large scale – Identifies and attracts key talent to the business – Articulate – Supports others in their endeavours – Passionate – Aiming for a state not a goal.

Anthony Wilsons Management Traits – Nil