The year was 2009. The law firm managing partner was confessing. Not in a contrite or inquisitive manner. The tone was incredulous. He didn’t get it; and he seemed to politely resent the idea that he should invest any time or energy discussing it. Ironically, he was elbows deep in the process of interviewing for … Continue Reading
In his book Leaders Eat Last, Simon Sinek sets the bar for what defines a leader. The book as well as Sinek’s TED Talks should be required for anyone aspiring to a leadership role. In short, the author suggests that the real measure of an effective leader is the degree to which she inspires a … Continue Reading
Ask a dozen professionals to define marketing and you might receive a dozen different responses. From retailer to B-to-B enterprise, from service provider to widget producer, from Fortune-listed to start-up — marketing is defined based on what we’re selling, and who we need to motivate. But all of us, unique perspectives notwithstanding, count on our … Continue Reading
If you wrestle with business development — where to focus, how to start, what to do next, how to make it seem natural — if you struggle with the whole idea , chances are one of the causes for the struggle is an anemic or nonexistent professional network. If this describes you and you’re among … Continue Reading
Long ago, before digital became the state of the art, the print industry hadn’t seen significant change for decades. Actually it wasn’t all that long ago in the scheme of things. Less than twenty-five years. Then someone figured out ones and zeroes. And norms for an entire industry began to shift. Seemingly overnight, what had once … Continue Reading
No one should be surprised. It is, after all, human nature. On the other hand, it is a distraction, a resource drain and a mistake we insist on making over and over. “It” is our seemingly relentless search for a business development Silver Bullet. From the siren call of a social platform to the promises that … Continue Reading
All listening is not the same. Consider the differences in the way you listen to talk radio as you sit in traffic; to the argument of an adversary; and, for the slightest whimper from the new born down the hall. The soundtrack of a day is complex. Most of us are adept at juggling multiple channels … Continue Reading
Business development is not complicated. Hard work? Indeed…because it is, at its core, about succeeding at relationships…and we all know that almost anything having to do with relationships is hard work. But the quest for formulas, fast-fixes and a magic planning template notwithstanding, biz dev success does not reside in a silver-bullet or one-size-fits-all solution. Strategically sound … Continue Reading
Some seem completely comfortable in their own skin in almost any situation. When it comes to business development, this translates to being at ease in any room — able to initiate conversations at the drop of a cocktail napkin. But for everyone who begins to sweat at the idea of the next networking room or … Continue Reading
When the goal is to develop new business relationships in a competitive marketplace, simply being visible — having your name “out there” — isn’t near enough to differentiate you from the crowd. And though there are certainly approaches to visibility that can elicit a Wow, if your marketing focuses solely on name recognition, you will … Continue Reading
Once you have identified the target for a business development pursuit, then what? The answer is simple. Whether you’re considering initial and broad based networking or a single focused pursuit, the success you seek hinges on the (often time consuming) work of building and nurturing professional relationship. Specific action steps will vary depending on the … Continue Reading
Let’s cut to the chase. Why do you need a network? Because your network is your market. Every day many professional service providers wrestle with how to develop new business — not because of inferior work product or poor client service; but because their network is not large enough to supply the connections, generate the referrals, … Continue Reading
We’ve said it before — business development will never be mistaken for rocket science. It isn’t even Algebra I…unless you employ the most basic of formulas — Success = X + Y. But this isn’t to suggest it is easy. Strategic business development requires a combination of factors: focus; tasks and activities that are difficult … Continue Reading
Honest dialogue can change things fast. It creates connections, seeds ideas, and is the critical thread in the fabric of relationship. It is about seeking to understand. The fact that dialogue doesn’t come easy is one reason relationships are so difficult. Self-interest, posturing, and the need to be certain we make our case tend to frame … Continue Reading
Rainmakers seem to have an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time. How do they pull this off? In fact, it is far from happenstance. The epitome of strategic business development and marketing is increasingly about executing a plan that connects with those most likely to influence or execute a … Continue Reading
To the degree that it is human nature, it is understandable. On the other hand, to the degree that it is a distracting resource drain, it significantly limits effective business development. “It” is the search for a Silver Bullet. From social media to the newest technology, from what’s hot in creative execution to the flavor-of-the-month … Continue Reading
If you want to test the viability of your approach to business development (or maybe even the quality of your most valued relationships), few questions will reveal more than this one: “Have I built a bridge to the next conversation?”. When considering business development and marketing efforts in today’s environment, the temptation — in fact, … Continue Reading
“Describe your ideal target client,” I asked. After shooting me a look that said that is the dumbest question I’ve ever heard, the law firm partner said, “My ideal client is the next person that walks into my office or calls me on the phone in need of a lawyer.” Translation: “My market comes to me.” … Continue Reading
If you’re marketing something, you’re likely investing resources in the development of connections. Social strategies, networking events, content marketing efforts…there is a long cafeteria line of tools, strategies and processes designed to get you connneted. Then what? Business development is about relationships. Not connections. Or fans. Or followers. Real honest-to-goodness-relationships. Today’s tools make establishing a … Continue Reading
Everyone has experienced a client / customer experience nightmare. Call it whatever you like; the fact is that almost every enterprise is going to have a bad day. What is done in the wake of the experience is the real stuff of being client / customer centered. The Bad Experience Since the first time we … Continue Reading
There are four ways you’ll acquire work and build a professional services practice in 2017. You’re already connected to someone who knows you and is inclined to use the services you provide; You are plugged into a group (network) that connects you and will refer or outright recommend you to someone in need of your … Continue Reading
If you’re considering a deeper dive into social media for business development punposes, are attempting to evaluate your current investment in social, or are among those just now waking to the reality that social media is actually out there changing the market, this post is for you. And it is a response to the fact … Continue Reading
Several years ago Fred Reichheld, among others, began working on a conversation and a system that would prompt organizations to rethink clients / customer relationships. In his book, The Ultimate Question (now available in an updated 2.0 version), the discussion zeroes in on what the author defines as the ultimate measure of loyalty — whether a … Continue Reading
Business development in the professional services sector is not rocket science. Anyone possessing the will and the discipline to follow a simple formula can, over time, build a thriving practice. (Okay — “over time” is the hard part. Much of the time we expect immediate results.) What is this formula? {Target Identification} + {Understanding of … Continue Reading
