As a CEO of a small agency, the largest part of my focus is going after new business while ensuring that current clients are happy. We explored what it is like to keep a balance between operations, staffing needs, internal marketing, accounting, and of course, new business.
Since responding to RFPs, meeting deadlines, and attending prospect meetings require a lot of travel, how do you make sure that you are productive while on the road? Here are some thoughts:
- Be accessible. It's one thing to turn off your phone when you are in a meeting trying to land an account. But, your staff at the agency's headquarters will need to reach you at times to get your approval on things, or find you if a crisis breaks out. It's important to empower and trust your employees so that they can go above and beyond their job scope and get things done while you are away.
- Check email. We all get our emails on our smartphones nowadays, but learn to unclutter your inbox quickly. Remember, giving a short response is better than no response. If not responded right away, many emails get lost in the shuffle, and you may end up embarrassed in the long run. It's important to know what's going on.
- If you are going to be away for more than two days, definitely schedule a daily call - no more than ten minutes - with your headquarters. Have an assigned staff member to go through updates at your agency. It's a good way to stay connected, and to also answer any questions that need immediate attention.
- Post social media updates. Sure, why not? If you are a CEO and are connected to clients on Facebook or Twitter, why not post updates on what you are up to. Clients like to see you are staying active in your agency. In fact, social media are notorious for opening dialogue and possibly even impromptu meetings... if a client happens to be in the same town as you!
- Carve out time for other tasks. While you are on the road focusing on winning new business, it is still important to learn to make the time to attend to current client business. Remember, your current clients is the only reason you are in business. You can only expect your staff to handle so much while you are away. Besides, one of the reasons those clients came to you is because you offer their account a personal touch!
After all that's done... go out and see the sights!
No comments:
Post a Comment