Nicholas Petroski’s Post

Agencies that command a price premium and maintain high win rates share a common thread... ...a focused and differentiating positioning strategy. They stand out in the marketplace by communicating their agency’s unique value proposition and the impact they deliver. They’re not in the bargain basement space, so they’re confident about saying, “This is what we do, and this is what it costs.” Their positioning sharpens their focus on the high-value needs of their ideal clients, enabling them to develop and sell compelling products rather than just services. This allows them to scale and advance their business model beyond the outdated practice of selling billable time. This workshop dives deep into how to refine your agency’s positioning strategy as the first step toward productizing your firm's value. It explores four key strategic questions every agency should be able to answer to define a clear positioning strategy and reveal where the best high-value productization opportunities are for the firm. Key takeaways will include: • The real and measurable power of a focused and differentiating positioning strategy • Many examples of agency positioning from around the world • An actionable framework to sharpen your firm’s positioning • The common mistakes agencies make that prevent them from developing a truly effective strategy • How to bring your strategy to life through all areas of your agency to maximize the benefits Who should attend: • Agency leadership teams • Anyone working on new business – we all have to be on the same page • Talent recruitment leaders Save your seat: https://lnkd.in/eGd_SUZa

Professional services organisations are starting to embrace the Fractional Marketing Leadership model. Is your company onboard? It's not just SaaS and Tech companies embracing the advantage of Fractional CMOs... More law firms, accountancy practices and financial services organisations are succumbing to the allure of: ➨ Accessing CMO expertise to drive growth ➨ Delaying the P&L cost of hiring a permanent CMO ➨ Flexible access to CMO expertise when the business needs it And more professional services organisations are speaking to us to discover the benefits of hiring a fractional CMO in lieu of going down the traditional route of hiring a senior executive. The fractional leadership model is a real thing and it is here to stay. And any business can take advantage. If you would like to find out more, we have published 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐌𝐎. If you would like a copy, simply reply 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 in the comments below. ♻️Share this post if you find it useful #FractionalLeadership #FractionalCMO #BusinessGrowth

In many #consulting and #advisory firms, marketing is seen as a necessary evil or as a support function. The marketing teams actions are often controlled and limited, and their performance questioned - often rightfully so. But doesn't actually lie with marketing. And it doesn't lie with the business development leader and team. The problem lies with executive leadership. First, there are incongruent expectations - executive leaders want strategic insight and business acumen, but they hire a marketing manager, whose job description screams execution. Second, it's a lack of a defined business growth strategy. Very often, these executives hire marketing "leaders" and ask them to put together a growth strategy in a silo, and then they are surprised when it fails. Mark Stouse talks about this quite a bit. Third, it's a lack of organizational alignment. Even if a long-term business growth strategy exists, it hasn't been evangelized enough to get buy-in with core stakeholders - leadership/partners, marketing, business development. Most times when I first talk to a #consultingfirm CEO or Founder, they tell me about all the poor experiences they have had with both internal and external marketing resources. I listen and ask questions, and look for at least a hint of them taking responsibility for these failures. If they do, then I know they could be a great fit for us to work with. If they don't, I try to probe to see if I can empathetically get them there. If I can't, then I will generally walk away from the opportunity. Growth requires solid infrastructure across 10 categories, and it needs to be led by the chief executive: 1. Your understanding of the market 2. Your positioning and messaging 3. Your clarity and alignment on goals 4. Your growth strategy 5. Your measurement setup 6. Your internal communication 7. Your sales enablement 8. Your business development acumen and process 9. Your accountability system 10. Your resources across the growth function If you want to see whether your #consultingbusiness is set up for growth, take our Growth Gap Assessment: https://lnkd.in/gmdEYtYV #consultingsuccess #b2bmarketing #growthstrategy

Promoting top individual contributors to sales managers can lead to both success and challenges. The main issue is that these promotions are often not executed correctly. Common problems include: 1. Taking the best revenue generators off the sales floor, hoping they will improve the whole team. 2. Not having a clear leadership development path for individual contributors. 3. Promoting contributors to leaders before providing leadership training. 4. Transitioning contributors into pure managers, focusing more on numbers than on people. 5. Turning managers into bottlenecks for their own teams, as they insert themselves into the sales cycle instead of coaching their teams to win. This often results in the sales team relying on managers to meet quota. However, this approach can work well if managed correctly: 1. Individual contributors should be offered different career paths when hired, without penalty for deciding against a managerial role. 2. Contributors should be trained in leadership and management before they are eligible for promotion. 3. Managers should be selected based on their coaching skills and holistic approach to their teams, not solely on their sales figures. 4. This strategy can strengthen the organization's overall capability and reduce the cost of onboarding new hires from outside the company. HT to Andy Paul and his guests on the Win Rate Podcast for some inspiration and ideas around this topic. ♻️ Share this post with your network, or someone who needs to see this. 🏷️ Tag your colleagues if they hire well for frontline managers.

🔑 Effective Team-Building: Tips for B2B Leaders 🔑 Building a successful team goes beyond just hiring the right people. It’s about creating an environment where everyone can thrive. 🌟 Here are some actionable strategies to enhance your team-building efforts: Define Clear Goals 🎯 Set specific, measurable objectives for your team. Clear goals provide direction and motivate your team to achieve a common purpose. Foster a Positive Culture 🌟 Create a culture of respect, inclusivity, and collaboration. A positive work environment enhances team morale and productivity. Encourage Open Communication 🗨️ Promote transparency and regular feedback. Open communication helps address issues early and keeps everyone aligned. Recognize and Reward Achievements 🏅 Celebrate successes and acknowledge individual contributions. Recognition boosts motivation and reinforces desired behaviors. Invest in Development Opportunities 📈 Provide training and growth opportunities. Investing in your team’s development leads to skill enhancement and career advancement. By applying these principles, you can build a strong, cohesive team that achieves exceptional results. 🚀 Check out this Forbes article for more insights on building your B2B dream team! https://lnkd.in/dxzbGDAh #TeamBuilding #Leadership #B2B #Management #ProfessionalGrowth

Taylor Crane has crafted an insightful guide on hiring a Fractional Leader for your company. This resource is essential for those looking to understand how fractional executive-level leadership can help your business.

🚀 Ever wondered what separates great marketing leaders from the good ones? It's not rocket science—it's about *consistency* and *adaptability*. While it's crucial to stay true to core values, a marketing leader must also be nimble enough to pivot strategies based on real-time data and market shifts. 🎯 Consistency builds trust. When your team knows what to expect from you, they can rely on clear guidance and unwavering support. This promotes a unified vision and seamless collaboration across departments. 🌟 Adaptability drives innovation. In today's fast-paced environment, being able to quickly adjust your tactics in response to changing customer behaviors or emerging trends is essential. This doesn't mean abandoning your plan at the first sign of trouble; rather, it means making informed tweaks that keep you ahead of the curve. 🗣️ How do you balance consistency with adaptability in your leadership style? Do you lean more towards one than the other? Share your thoughts!

🔍 Navigating Business Success Through Fractional Leadership: A Unique Perspective As a business advisor, I relish the opportunity to step into the role of fractional support for our clients. This approach takes on various forms, spanning a wide spectrum of topics. What truly fuels my passion is the ability to make a tangible impact on leadership teams, driving significant progress in pivotal projects through the lens of an external perspective. In business, where every decision counts, considering fractional support can be a game-changer. If you haven't explored the potential of adding fractional expertise to your leadership team, this month is your chance to gain valuable insights. Join us as we delve deep into the realm of Fractional Leadership, discovering how it can reshape your organization's future. Your journey toward success with Fractional Leadership begins here. 🚀 #FractionalLeadership #BusinessAdvisor #OutsidePerspective #StrategicThinking #ApexGTSAdvisors

The best part about working with Crisp Media is you don't have to chose between a #fractionalcmo and a #fractionalmarketingdirector! We'll make sure you have the right amount of both resources to meet your business where it's at and put a marketing plan in place for sustainable growth 📈 #practicalmarketingleadership #marketingstrategy #growthmarketing

Bringing in a fractional leader can be a compelling strategic option for many reasons. https://lnkd.in/gmCFhyUA