In an era of intense competition and a market filled with professionals eager to become key partners to their stakeholders, we must think strategically about offering differentiated services and interacting with people around us in an engaging way.

Work Strategically, Not Tirelessly

During my 20+ years of career in various industries and roles, I have seen highly knowledgeable and committed professionals providing the best presentations, advice, training, and service, working significantly longer hours compared to peers, and still struggling to engage with clients and internal people from other areas.

Sometimes we focus so intensely on our own desires and goals that we neglect the context and the people who play a crucial role in helping us achieve them.

Examples:

• Salespeople bombarding companies with emails and calls without a brand strategy, in-depth service understanding, or tailored communication for different industries, cultures, and personal styles

• Operations teams forcing clients to listen to lengthy presentations when a quick email with a results chart would suffice

• Leaders trying to motivate teams using language their teams can't follow

• HR performance review models that are more of a compliance requirement than a career advancement opportunity

What to Do?

Regardless of your role, industry, or team, there's always a huge advantage in researching key aspects before and while interacting with stakeholders.

Where to Start - Get to Know Yourself First!

Multiple ways to engage with others exist, but first, know yourself. Take a test (e.g., Strengths Finder) to understand your interaction style. Identify what comes naturally to you and what requires more effort. Don't get stuck on something unnatural; find alternatives to connect with others. Identify what suits others based on their style (phone, email, etc.) and find the most effective way to communicate with each other.

Think About Your Role:

Consider how your role fits in the organization and what is expected from you. When joining a company or changing roles, there's a new world to learn about. Ask for a job description, discuss expectations with your leader, get to know your teammates and the ultimate beneficiary of your work. Help others see the value of what you do.

Think About Your Industry:

Investigate the challenges and opportunities in your industry. Analyze the main characteristics of people in your industry. Each industry has its own style (formal, process-oriented, fast-paced, etc.). Adapt to the context you belong to.

Think About Your Team:

Understand each team member's role and determine how they would benefit from working with you. Learn how you can benefit from their knowledge and experience. Deliver solid work that your team will appreciate.

Think About Other Areas in Your Organization:

Look for opportunities to connect with others through training, presentations, and meetings. Learn from others to easily access information for your work deliverables. Enjoy working with others and maintain healthy relationships with colleagues for mental health and wellbeing. Take care of others while they take care of you, and appreciate and support your colleagues.

Conclusion

At RocketPower, we believe our culture of collaboration is key to developing solid relationships internally and with clients. Through our onboarding plan, frequent team meetings, Tiger team initiatives, and platforms to share information and experience, we trust that anyone can achieve outstanding results from a true team. Feel free to contact us to learn more about how we can help your business!