5 directions to look as you plan for 2012.
Hello everyone, Rob DeRobertis for the Technology Marketing Center
When Chris Halliwell sent me a note reminding me that it was my time to post a new blog entry, I was (and still am) in the mist of annual planning for 2012. I have another week before I can actually start thinking about the holidays and year end reflections. So here are 5 directions to look as you plan for 2012.
1) Look Backward
First assess where you are. What worked this year? Where were the successes? Where did things go astray? What safe guards have you put in place to make sure you don't repeat mistakes and what steps have you taken to continue on with those successes?
2) Look Left
Take a deep look at the competition. What are they saying about themselves? How are they positioning themselves and their products? What were their attack vectors? Are the competitors defining the market or are you?
http://www.technologymarketingcenter.com/resourcearchive/how-to-attack-with-competitive-positioning.php
3) Look Right
Look at your team. How have they grown? What strengths do you build upon and what skills do you build into the team? Make sure every member from the best to the weakest are growing, learning and enjoying their roles. Have forward discussions and define plans to help your team achieve not only the company's goals but their own personal goals.
4) Look Forward
One year from now, where do you want to be? What do you want customers thinking when they consider your company, your products and your team? Put yourself in the position of the "future you" and look back, how did you get there? Define a plan to get there.
5) Look Up
Look up at your customers. Where are they going? What challenges are they facing? What elements of the whole product that you deliver make their jobs easier and differentiate them in the market? Where are you falling short?
6) Never Look Down, especially if you suffer from vertigo in high places.
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