The premise behind Marketer as Leader™ is that professional services marketers often get caught in the trap of focusing largely on production – responding to the requests of others, reacting to last-minute “opportunities,” keeping up with the endless to-do list – all in an effort to prove your value to the firm as an “overhead” position.

We believe that professional service marketers working in this way are merely skimming the surface of their talents and expertise – thus, limiting their potential contribution to the firm’s growth and success.

Our model and process invites you to examine your true effectiveness in your firm. Are you operating at a reactive, surface level? Or are you challenging yourself – and firm leaders – to push marketing into a leadership role?  Are you a “go-fer”? Or a “go-to”?

Productivity Zone (White)

The center portion of the model consists of 8 wedges representing key productivity functions of a marketing leader:

• Planning: Setting forth detailed steps, timelines and assigning resources for achieving results
• Setting Direction: Developing marketing strategies that align with and influence the firm’s vision
• Being Organized: Establishing systems for accomplishing key action items, providing procedures to guide staff and monitor progress
• Building Relationships: Knowing who your key stakeholders are and building effective relationships with them
• Problem Solving: Anticipating and evaluating challenges, identifying and implementing solutions
• Influencing & Motivating: Using your presence and awareness of self and others to inspire staff to overcome political and resource obstacles and reach bigger goals
• Managing My Time: Being able to prioritize and manage my day to full effectiveness
• Promoting Change: Embracing and enrolling others in useful change, whether organizational or development of new services, processes or target markets

Self-Awareness Zone (Yellow)

The next ring out represents the areas of self-awareness marketers must develop as they step toward their leadership strength:

• Self-Confidence: How certain are you of your role, abilities and purpose?
• Self-Control: How well do you manage your behaviors and communication for maximum effectiveness?
• Self-Motivation: How internally driven are you?
• Social Impact: How aware are you of your impact on the people you interact with?

Leadership Zone (Red)

The next ring in the model represents levels of leadership we invite you to embrace as you develop:

• Self Leadership: How connected are you with your personal values and sense of purpose as an individual?
• Relational Leadership: How aware are you of how your regard for others (and theirs for you) relates to your ability to influence?
• Organizational Leadership: How aware are you of your place within your organization and your ability to hold and influence the organization’s bigger vision?

Power Zone (Black)

The outer ring represents the “eco-system” that you swim in as a human being in a marketer’s role. In the midst of your busyness, you may ask yourself: “Why am I working this hard?”  “Where is the meaning in my work?”  “What’s the point?”  Our stance is that surrounding your day-to-day work with this kind of internal exploration will help you clarify your purpose, enhance your power, embolden your leadership stance, and ultimately contribute to your personal fulfillment as a marketer and your contribution to your firm’s success.

In addition, as you gain influence in your firm and with firm leadership, you can be become a leadership catalyst and global strategist, helping guide your firm to reflect on its own business and community footprint.  As firms continue to grow and evolve especially as legal services become more commoditized globally, asking and answering hard questions regarding your firm’s value footprint is a critical next level competitive strategy.