Viper Training

The Art of Marketing Leadership: Knowing the Tricks

Author: Neil Wilkins

Neil learnt his marketing with the likes of Orange, NatWest, BP Castrol and Ordnance Survey and now helps individuals and businesses to communicate more effectively. He trains and mentors marketers on professional Chartered Institute of Marketing qualifications through to post-graduate level.

TRICKS is a six letter acronym designed to remind you of some of the key skills and behaviours required and demonstrated by the most effective marketing leaders:

T is for Trust - an inherent part of the marketing armoury for dealing with peers, staff, stakeholders and customers without trust the marketer is nobody. You not only have to feel it yourself but continuously exhibit and prove it.

R is for Reflection - take regular and planned time-out for thinking about the bigger picture. Staying wound up in the day-to-day can prevent you from taking time out to breathe, reflect, strategise and innovate. The most creative time is normally when you are away from delivering the tactics.

I is for Integrity - marketers must take others through a cycle of faith, trust and loyalty. People with integrity find this so much easier and marketers can even build this into their brands, products and services to great effect.

C is for Communication - with clear communication across every possible medium from the spoken word to social networking the very best marketers are adept at timely, relevant and engaging communication. It's no longer enough to say that digital communication is just for the kids.

K is for Knowledge - base every decision large and small on solid and robust intelligence. Turn information and data into intelligence by focusing on what's important to know and use it to plan scenarios and  possible outcomes to maximise opportunities and minimise risk.

S is for Style - marketers are quick to focus on their brands for their businesses but what about their personal brand. In the world of digital communication the styles of the key people in the organisation can be as important as the products and services themselves. Ensure everything tells the same story.

Take some time out each and every month to consider your TRICKS and build them into your personal development and growth.

- Posted on Sunday 22 Jan 2012 at 20:57 by Neil Wilkins

Tags: leadership (2), marketing leadership and planning (1)