Got an interesting newsletter from Peep Laja at Wynter.com this morning, that got me thinking of the marketer's dilemma. If a marketer does boring and safe, nobody will object. If they do as it's always been done. If they use terms like productivity, efficiency, streamlined, best-in-class, seamless. Even when every one at the table has … Continue reading The marketer’s dilemma
Tag: growth
Bad bosses
Do employees quit bad bosses? As a matter of fact, they do. And they do quit organizations that provide inadequate training and promotional opportunities, bonuses, and non-cash benefits, that foster (willingly or unwillingly) a negative climate, that assign insignificant tasks, or repetitive tasks, that do not leave enough autonomy, that do not give enough support. … Continue reading Bad bosses
Engagement
If you are in a position of power, it is important for you to acknowledge that any one of your actions that suggests external causality (i.e. if you do this, I will make this happen) is going to reduce both intrinsic motivation (i.e. the tendency to seek challenges, to use curiosity, to learn) and the … Continue reading Engagement
Doing is boring
Doing is boring. It comes after the excitement of ideation and brainstorming. It is way ahead of the sparkles and glitters of reveal and success. It is repetitive, often solitary, unsung, at times painful, mostly bland. And that is precisely why many fail at it. Showing up day after day to merely do is a … Continue reading Doing is boring
My people resist change
Three ways to go about change in companies. Engage with the people affected in time. Instead of going for behind-closed-doors decisions and big reveals, make everyone part of the process. You won't lose control, and you will win a variety of perspectives and a clear view on what the major problems will be.Meet people where … Continue reading My people resist change
Old friends
If you are a manager and you are starting at a new company, it is great that you have already some key people from your past experiences that you would like to bring onboard to fill key roles and take important responsibilities. As you do that, be mindful of two things though. The people in … Continue reading Old friends
Positioning Bernie
If you have been around the internet in the past week, you have certainly seen it. One of the greatest example of positioning in recent times. The informal attire of Bernie Sanders to last week's presidential inaguration, the meme-frenzy that followed, and the way him and his team promptly reacted. All of it has put … Continue reading Positioning Bernie
Squeezed or integrated
There are two ways to do product marketing. Reactive product marketing is when product marketing is squeezed between departments. Product marketing managers react to the needs of the other parts of the organization. When product releases a feature, product marketing has to find a way to communicate that feature. When sales targets a new type … Continue reading Squeezed or integrated
Words
When you write copy for a website, a landing page, a brochure, a banner, an email, or any other marketing or sales material, this is a great piece of advice. Except, you should actually ask that question at word level: what is this word supposed to do? Words take up precious space on screens, and … Continue reading Words
Startup mentality
Startup mentality is a beautiful concept we are gradually wearing out. It is about not being stuck in hierarchies and roles, being able to spot problems and go about solving them, having the flexibility to do work that matters whenever it is easier for you, feeling at ease with change and appreciating the challenges that … Continue reading Startup mentality
