Connect-IMCAZ

Consultant's Speed Networking

This month's IMCAZ meeting will be a fun and fast paced version of speed networking. Get to know your fellow consultants and discover what new business you can generate in 2010.
 

Sylva Leduc, MEd, MPEC
Leadership Strategist
Co-Author, Roadmap to Success

Shift Happens: Did You Know 4.0?

Fascinating video on how how the world is changing (and accelerating) because of technology and more recently, social media. 

This is the new Fall 2009 version and it includes facts and stats focusing on the changing media landscape, including convergence and technology.  It was developed in partnership with The Economist.

Shift Happens: Did You Know 4.0?

Your VP of Programs,
Sylva Leduc, MEd, MPEC
SageLeaders.com

Brand Building 101 with Vickie Sullivan

This month, Brand Strategist, Vickie Sullivan will be sharing some of her best practices in building a business brand. 

In Arizona as we slowly make our way out of the recession, the businesses which remain top-of-mind for clients and prospective clients will be leading the way.  Make sure that YOUR consulting business is one of those which will thrive in 2010.

For more, information and to register, go to

http://imcaz.org/meetings/current/index.html

See you there,

Sylva Leduc, MEd
Leadership Strategist
Sage Leaders Inc.

How might I "punctuate" a project?

Are there any tips out there for this situation?

I've just gotten an extension on a 10 month project for another 10 months.  This is for expanding a leadership program, as well as continuing to support the current group I have been working with. 

I am aware of how ending a project often has a great impact on people -- they hurry to get results, they take steps because they are running out of time to act while they still have the support they need, etc.   So by announcing I'm staying on, I worry that people will slip into the next phase without having the benefits that a "close" brings.

Does anyone have a suggestion of how to "punctuate" a project, so that there is a sense of closing with phase I, in order to reap as much results as possible?  Or other idea to leverage this transition?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Do Your Clients Constitute A Tribe?

Definition of Tribes
(Culled from Seth Godin’s book Tribes)

Recently, our IMC Mastermind group met and discussed this short, thought-provoking book and how we can use its ideas in our consultancies. Our discussion led me to make tribe development a key component in my business's word-of-mouth marketing strategy development. Why? Tribe members are loyal, energized about their goal, and eagerly share information with each other and their networks.

Seth Godin's main concept shows us that the new "Marketing" is simply "Leadership." Form a group using the following characteristics, lead it, and you've begun your own tribe.

Characteristics of a tribe:

• Members must have a common goal/cause/interest
• Its leaders(s) lead, they don't manage
• The leader(s) create a space for members to communicate easily
• Members create what they will, organically, with a few pointers from the leader
• Members are exclusive to a certain group (some folk can't or won't join)
• It's not a group or crowd, but an interactive community

Established tribes:

• Oprah followers
• Homeschoolers
• Apple computer users

Here are some ideas to help you jump-start your own supportive tribe of clients, vendors, or associates:

• What common goal might your clients get behind to talk about? Make it something germaine to their lives and work, so they see what's in it for them.
• Easy communication/gatherings are paramount to the success of a tribe. Luckily, today's online tools make it relatively easy. In-person meetings are a great idea, too.
• How can you as a leader spark ideas/action within the group?

Ann N. Videan, APR
Videan Unlimited marketing connections
www.videanunlimited.com

Rave Reviews on the interview with Alan Weiss

On Friday, July 10th, the first in our Summer Series began when I interviewed Alan Weiss.  Alan is known as the Million Dollar Consultant, Contrarian Consultant and Architect of Professional Communities. 

Recently, Alan has also been called the King of Social Media, a tongue-in-cheek reference to his thoughts about LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

I asked Alan about the origins, rational, and implementation for value based fees.  This is a concept that Alan pioneered and which he wrote about in his best selling book, Getting Started in Consulting.

We also covered self esteem and the impact on consultants, the accelerant curve (somewhat similar to the "marketing funnel" concept - but better!), social networking (Alan's advice is to spend less time tweeting and more time writing articles or books), web sites, podcasts, videos, writing proposals, finding the buyer, the necessary components in a  press kit (aka media kit), innovation, determining the value of a project and much more. 

We even spoke about what a starting consultant should do to improve business and which industries are doing well during these confusing economic times.

There were more than 3 dozen people on the call and feedback has been phenomenal. Alan shifted their thinking!

Our next call in August is with C.J. Hayden, the best selling author of Get Clients Now.Register on the IMC AZ site  for that teleconference call.

Cheers,
Sylva Leduc,  IMC AZ 2009 Programs Chair

 

Sylva K. Leduc, MEd (Psychology), MPEC
"Developing Leaders Who Deliver Results"

Award-Winning Executive Coach
Leadership Strategist, Author & Speaker
Sage Leaders Inc. & SAGE Leadership Strategies
10115 E. Bell Road, Suite 107-307, Scottsdale, AZ 85260


E-mail: syl@sageleaders.com
Web: http://SylvaLeduc.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvaleduc
Follow Me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/WindowSyl

Alan Weiss, the Million Dollar Consultant, joins us from his home in Rhode Island

Friday, July 10th, Alan Weiss shares his wisdom about consulting in our first 2009 summer teleconference.

All registrants are eligible to enter the "Ask Alan" contest.  In this contest two consultants who pose the most intriguing questions will each receive one of Alan's books.

For details, go to the registration page

Even if you can't attend live, register and receive the download after the call.

Sylva Leduc, MEd, MPEC
Programs Chair, IMC AZ
Sage Leadership Strategies

The Benefits of an IMC Membership

For our June meeting we had the pleasure of a visit from Dr. Drumm McNaughton, CMC, the President and CEO of IMC USA.

Drumm shared with us the variety of members-only benefits. 

While too numerous to mention all the benefits here, go to the National website  IMC USA Member Benefits

Two benefit examples are:

1. A personalized Webpage - Personal IMC Member Profile
2. Significantly reduced Annual Membership to Rain Today

Cheers,

Sylva Leduc
Programs Chair, IMC-AZ
Sage Leadership Strategies

Do you have a Social Networking Strategy?

Last week, Dave Cooke, aka the Sales Cooke, filled our brains with even more information about Social Media.  In his presentation, though, Dave talked about developing a strategy instead of jumping in blindly. 

I’m glad he that was the focus of his presentation because I've been telling my own clients to do the same thing.  Blogging, LinkedIn, Plaxo, Facebook, Ryze, Ning, Xing, YouTube or Twitter or anything else is only as good as your plan.  

Dave sent his PPTs, which will be forwarded to those who attended the meeting.  He also asked me to share the following recommendations for anyone grappling with what to do next:

1. Define what your business.  What do you provide your clients, the value your clients get and the real problems or issues that you solve for your clients.
2. Determine what people would be looking for if they would be looking for the solutions that you are providing.  Is it better hires, teamwork, increased revenues, etc.
3. Defining what businesses are looking for and what your business solves is your marketing opportunity.  Develop a plan or a vision for how you would promote this combination.
4. Determine how you would like to best communicate your message – written, audio, video, etc.
5. Start capturing your thoughts and ideas in the selected medium from above as it relates to your expertise and share them.
6. Use Twitter.com to promote your postings. 
7. Use a social networking site (Facebook, LinkedIn, Plaxo) to increase your contacts.
8. Link Twitter, Social Networking and your chosen medium together and get busy.

 If anyone has questions, please contact Dave via www.purecooke.com

Sylva Leduc, follow me on Twitter @windowsyl
www.SylvaLeduc.com

More on social networking ...

On Friday, Colleen Carmean from ASU presented info on "all things Web 2.0".   One point she brought up is whether all the free Web 2. 0 tools will survive the economic downturn.  Hmmm, food for thought. Especially if you have lots of information stored on one those free sites.  When my partner and I owned our software company we were constantly forewarning our customers to back up their data.  Hadn't thought about doing the same for social networking sites. 

During Colleen's presentation/discussion, one of the questions posed was "how do I decide what to do in Web 2.0 and where do I place my time?"

Great question and one I'm sure is one the minds of many consultants.  Fortunately, Dave Cooke, aka The Sales Cooke is going to address that question in May when he discusses developing a strategy for social networking.

Personally, I can hardly wait.  I am on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Plaxo,  I know what a time soak they can be.   I have evaluated (and ignored) Twitter for a very long time. 

A couple of weeks ago I set up my Twitter account and people can now follow me  @windowsyl

I am following some interesting people and made a few "tweets" of my own but, I'm still not convinced of the utility of Twitter.  To me, too many people on Twitter write so much stuff that is not relevant to business. I know it was initially a way for friends to connect and now there is a blurring of how it is used for personal/business information.

In a brief discussion with Dave after the meeting I said that the type of leaders/executives I coach don't use Twitter and that it does nothing for search engine ranking.  Dave's answer made me pause when he said that maybe right how there's not an algorithm for Twitter, but who knows what will happen in the future.  And that those who are on Twitter now (with a healthy following) will become better known in their field, long term.

If you are wondering about what social networking tools will be helpful for your business and to become better known, then consider attending next month's meeting.

Even though I am the VP of Programs for this year where it's important for me to show up for the meetings, this is one I will definitely attend.  I don't want to be left behind AND I want to use my time effectively.

Cheers,
Sylva Leduc
www.SylvaLeduc.com