Moving forward with marketing in a world of uncertainty can be challenging. Unpredictable pandemics and other events which result in changes to business protocol impact buyers. Marketers need to be aware of how content is consumed to reach decision-makers and influencers effectively, especially now. More importantly, strategies will need to adapt to this new world to achieve business goals and [...]
Many sales representatives struggle with sales prospecting. In fact, 42 percent of sales associates named prospecting the most challenging stage of the sales process. (1) Why is prospecting so difficult? Ideal prospects rarely exist. Studies show that at least 50 percent of prospects are not the right fit Making sales is tougher than it was five years ago, according to [...]
Absent the clairvoyance to accurately see into the future, it is difficult for businesses to plan for the unknown, especially in uncertain times. The situation constantly evolves, new behaviors and opinions form quickly, and numerous challenges as well as opportunities occur daily on a global scale. Certain trends have dominated during the coronavirus pandemic: 40 percent to 60 percent of [...]
Problem-solving for business problems is no longer an option; the pandemic has made it mandatory. Curiosity is critical to problem-solving. Why? Revealing problems that could prove damaging to business requires asking the right questions and following them up with additional thoughtful questions. A mind that has been trained to be curious has access to a treasure trove of subjects and [...]
The pandemic has caused a global crisis at an unprecedented level. Between the fear of contracting the virus and anxiety over the economic repercussions of mandated shutdowns, many people are experiencing stress at a level never seen before. As employee morale suffers, so does their productivity and engagement. Employees look to leadership for guidance and security during trying times. Leadership [...]
There has never been a better time to come up with inspiring ideas and push the limits of innovation at your business. The good news is that uncertainty offers many benefits! It provides you with a virtually unlimited field for creativity – and this could mean the difference between failure and success. The ground is fertile with possibilities right now. [...]
The COVID-19 pandemic is inflicting tremendous stress on many employees due to its the uncertainty associated with it and the unprecedented nature of the fallout. The primary difference between “healthy” stress and “unhealthy” stress is that unhealthy stress is fueled by the inability to control a situation. According to this definition, the COVID-19 pandemic is a textbook case example of [...]
Business innovation is about more than creating new products to sell, figuring out how to finance them or how to manufacture them. The same is true for services. It is tempting, during a crisis, to focus on selling more of a product or services right now, or how to create something new to sell right now. However, being innovative entails [...]
While leadership in many businesses is communicating openly with employees during COVID-19, there are indications that employees are not necessarily satisfied with the messages being conveyed. A mere 53 percent rated messaging as “useful” while 11 percent said they were “not very satisfied” or “not satisfied at all with it.” (1) When communication falters, organizations suffer. The importance of open, [...]
No organization is immune to a crisis. Natural disasters, economic uncertainty, fires, active shooter or terrorist attacks, and even former disgruntled employees are all potential stress-inducing factors. When a sudden global health pandemic occurs, employees are faced with an unprecedented level of stress. Certain risks such as some natural disasters or fires, for example, can be planned or anticipated. (Remember [...]