April 24, 2006
Managing Perception
What a wonderful life. Among other things…
1. My husband and I just got back from a fabulous, four-day getaway at an incredible service-driven B & B – www.evergreen-bb.com.
2. I’m taking most of tomorrow off to celebrate my birthday.
3. I feel very privileged to be working with clients who are growing and making a difference. They are bright, energetic people who are not afraid to explore new ways of doing things in order to have the business they envision and to live the life they want.
Eric is one such client – and a senior manager in a major corporation. Today, he sent me this note and, with his permission, I’m sharing it with you here.
“Hi Ann
"I sat down yesterday and reviewed all my coaching session notes of the past 12 months and decided to send you this note to say a big thank you. You can use it anywhere you want because if it results in you helping more people, then that’s what I want.
"It’s been a year since you started working with me as my business coach. In that time you’ve provided both guidance and challenges for me, especially in terms of leadership and my relationships with my staff. The coaching has always been based on my needs, not on what you thought I needed. This business coaching was (and still is) extremely helpful.
"As the year progressed through the inevitable corporate organizational changes and priorities, I found myself becoming overwhelmed and depressed. I was living to work, not working to live. Ann, you adjusted your coaching style to help me deal with these issues. Our sessions became centered more around the “personal me” and not the “business me.”
"Thank you for helping me discover what really matters in life, helping me through my lifelong dependency on the approval of others to feel good, helping me develop coping mechanisms…helping me with a lot of things that we sometimes forget about when we’re not living a balanced lifestyle.
"I am very thankful to you for being a major reason that I am now working to live.
"Thank you, Ann.
Eric”
Thanks, Eric. Your courage makes the difference.
Ann Griffiths
ann@smartstrategiesinc.com
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IN THIS ISSUE
Part 1 - Managing Perception
Part 2 - Showcase - And the Winner is…
Part 3 - Personal Reflections
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PART 1: Managing Perception
Over this past month, I was the key note speaker at two retreats and presented a marketing lecture at the School of Women’s Ministries that trains women to work with women. It’s been a busy time – and a whole lot of fun.
After delivering the lecture and looking over recent emails from ezine readers, I decided that marketing would be a good topic for the next installment of my “7 Essentials” series.
Why? Because everyone who is responsible for marketing their business or organization has to, from time to time, take themselves back to basics.
Did you know that in the 1968 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, the word “Marketing” doesn’t even show up? A more recent dictionary gives the definition as – “an aggregate of functions involved in moving goods from producer to consumer.”
In other words, marketing is the sum or accumulation of everything we’ve done and do to get someone to respond to what we’re promoting. And all those things we’ve done and do, combine to shape what people think. Each strategy, activity, tactic…contributes to how people perceive us.
Over the years, I’ve heard so many definitions of “Marketing” but the best so far is one I read this past month – “marketing is the management of perception.” I love it.
Marketing is about managing people’s perceptions toward what you want them to respond to. It doesn’t mean that it’s about being deceptive or manipulative. It means that we are being real. If we say one thing but do another then we are being deceptive and our message is a lie. And no venture has had long-term success based on lies.
Reviewing marketing basics reminds us to take a step back and focus on what’s important as we market to the people we’re trying to reach. I hope you will take a look at the 7 Essentials for Marketing Success – the next in the 7 Essentials series.
As you read through it, ask yourself:
1. How does my target audience perceive my business/organization today?
2. How do I want my target audience to perceive my business?
3. What do I need to do to make a difference in how they perceive my business?
To access your copy of the 7 Essentials for Marketing Success, click here
Note: If you missed “7 Essentials for Igniting Passion” you can find it by clicking here
PART 2: Showcase - And the Winner is…
On April 3rd, The International Coach Federation, Vancouver Chapter, announced the 2006 PRISM Award winner (Quality Move Management Allied International). They also awarded runner up to my client, Dave Coates and his team at ErgoRisk Management Group www.ergorisk.com
The Prism Award celebrates businesses and organizations that have achieved tangible bottom-line benefits and other organizational impacts through professional coaching as a leadership strategy.
In his acceptance speech, Dave said that the results he has seen from using coaching as a key business strategy this past year include:
- Renewed leadership confidence and focus
- Energized and committed employees
- Improved communication skills
- Successful negotiation in acquiring a competitor’s company
- Addition of a Calgary office
- A 43% increase in net profits over 2004
- A healthier marriage
Congratulations, Dave. It’s an award well earned.
PART 3: Personal Reflections
A couple of days ago, I was working in the garden with two little helpers who were eager to learn what was a “keeper” flower and what was a “wayside” flower. Near the end of our time, 9-year-old Victoria said, “Grandma, you sure know a lot.”
One day she will find out that I don’t know as much as she thinks I know and that I, like her, am learning. For now, I am grateful for the opportunity to share with my grandchildren what my grandma taught me.
Each year that a birthday comes around, I can’t help but be thankful for a successful business that allows me to do the things I love to do, health and strength to enjoy the activities that enhance my life, amazing husband, children, and grandchildren who care about one another and love being together, genuine friends who challenge each other and openly laugh and cry together (even if some are oceans away), and so much more.
My number one core value is Relationships which, for me, means developing lasting and meaningful memories in and through loving relationships with my husband, children, grandchildren, and close friends.
Whether I’m drumming with my son, at the theatre with my daughter, talking on the phone or gardening with my grandchildren, having a family party or spending time with friends it’s all about developing lasting and meaningful memories.
What kinds of memories are you building? I hope you’re making time in your busy schedule to do what’s important to you?
