What’s the best way to represent SML Consultive?
Why did it take me 5 days to design this retractable?
Simply put, because I struggle with the important task of effective messaging.
Despite being a decent communicator, and having put in well over my “10,000 hours” of public speaking, I often say, “I have a much better STAGE presence than PAGE presence.”
So, when working to design a new piece of marketing that I know will be positioned at most SML events, I wanted to be sure to effectively communicate the vision of how we serve our clients.
The big question I wrestled with: Should I focus on the problem we solve or the solution we provide?
There are compelling arguments on both sides. And there is (of course) the perspective that would ask, “Why not share HOW you solve the problem?”
But, for a pop-up that will get 1-3 seconds of attention as someone passes by the booth or table, there cannot be blocks of text…
I tortured myself over this for days…and this was after I shot down multiple ideas presented by the design team! Not only did I go back and forth on my own opinions, I solicited advice from at least 5 different people.
In the end, I came to two conclusions:
1. If I mess this up, it’s a $300 loss to make a new one. (If I kept deliberating, who knows how much I would lose!)
2. Focusing on overall vision is better than being overly specific.
I ended up choosing to simply place our values at front and center.
This allows people to know what we believe. If it resonates with them, they can choose to learn more about what we do and the problems we solve. And, if they want to do that, they can easily do so by using the provided QR code.
Is it perfect? I have no idea.
Is it complete? Yes!
Am I still tortured over it? No…well maybe a little 😋
The bigger picture is what I am still thinking about.
What’s the best way to represent SML Consultive? To date, we have primarily focused on the problems we solve. But, I am increasingly convinced that the attraction model is the way to go. We share what we do and attract those who are interested.
I’m sure there will be many more conversations (feel free to contribute in the comments) and much more internal debate as we proceed. But I think that’s all part of building a business. Sometimes there is no “right” answer, and the leader simply has to be the one who takes ownership of both the decision and the consequences.
I’d love to hear from some of my sales, and executive friends on this!
Have you experienced similar challenges?
#businessbranding #leadershipchallenges #growth #personaldevelopment #messagingmatters
About SML
SML Consultive got its start when the founder, Jon Antonucci recognized a problem in almost every organization: Front-line leaders were failing terribly, and their teams were miserable!
Jon decided to leverage his 20+ years of leadership experience to solve this problem and empower leaders that leave a positive legacy and change the world!
Providing dynamic and engaging leadership tools for leaders who actively work with staff, SML empowers effective engagement with internal clients, fostering a culture of collaboration and impact that facilitates increased employee retention and customer satisfaction.
Real-world solutions are customized to meet the unique needs of the individuals and organizations served, ensuring dynamic impact and the opportunity for leaders to leave a legacy that changes the world—starting with the team and organization they are serving.
Looking for a great leadership development solution for either yourself or the leaders of your organization? Visit www.ServantMindedLeadership.com for more information on how we serve the forgotten leaders and empower them to change the world!
The above content is provided as a free resource from SML Consultive, the global leader in front-line leadership development. For more free Leadership resources:
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