Organizational Architecture

I thought that this idea may be applicable to others so I will share it here.

Simply put it starts with the potential client, the consumer of whatever it is you are creating, offering, manufacturing - it really doesn't matter.  The point is that you are trying to reach someone out there. In this way of thinking they are the center of everything.  The reason you are doing whatever it is you are doing. Above all things you need to know what they need.  But you can't just ask them.  They don't know they have a need.  That is the point.  They will choose the best they can from the options available - businesses quantify this as market share.  But they forget that the market is only defined by what is made available in it.  It could be that there is a need for a new market.  I hope you get the idea.

Ok so let's agree that you have figured out what the consumer needs, Q: What do you do next?  A: Innovate a solution or product to exceed the need.  And after you have that or an idea of that you need to talk to them about it.  This is where The Room comes in. 

The Room can be a meetup, a Chamber of Commerce meeting, a ballroom you rented, or any other place where you tell your story.  There is a lot out there about getting your story together, perfect pitch - which still makes me think about choir practice - styles, attention span, flow.  This is not about that.  What I encourage you to do is to stand on that stage in your minds eye and imagine what is happening.  What are you saying, doing, showing your audience.  There is not an play in existence that happened by the seat of their pants.  There is not a produced single movie that did not have lots and lots of practice and takes.  Why then do so many devote such a small amount of time to preparing to tell the most important story, your business story.

See that Room and everything that will happen in it.  After you do remind yourself that no matter how well you plan there will be surprises. The better rehearsed you are the more grace you will bring in handling the unexpected.

Now we will move to thinking about how we get to The Room.  No I don't mean walking through the door, or do I? This about things like logistics.  What type of room do you choose?  Will any Room do or do you need a room with light and sound?  Is open air a Room that works for your consumer?

It is still all about them.  They are your guest and you want to make them as comfortable as possible, or maybe you need to shake them out of a deep sleep and do something radical.  Always with safety in mind, of course.  Scheduling the date, comparison of the costs, are there bonuses?  I like the one where you invite a group to a club where the club gets to be shown to new prospective members and you get a room for the afternoon.  Many are very stylish places and may even serve refreshments.  Thee are things to negotiate - if you have planned it out in advance.

Are you marketing the event?  if so what channels are you using, what are the lead times for them to occur?  Do you need to prepare materials - signs, adverts, flyers, or a script for a interview so it will all come off looking professional and appealing to your target audience.

And lastly lets think about what happens after The Room. What happens next?  What do you want to have happen?  Many will forget what you said within about two days of you saying it.  This is the nature of our busy brains.  You need to ask permission to contact them.  You need to enable them to do that and then you need to know what you are going to say, how you are going to say it and when you are going to say it to build that relationship.  This all takes more planing and preparation.  If you miss this part you loose out on the opportunity you worked so hard to create.  Doesn't that make it worth doing?

Ok so let's pull this altogether.  We have the Client in the center, the Room above, the Before to the left and the After to the right. 

In every business there is a need to have a client acquisition system.  A seminar - live or virtual - is a great way to reach the people who your story is written for.  How you stage those events will have as much impact on the success of the activity as what you actually say.  Do yourself  a favor and think it through.  Then go out there and build your business to all it can be.  

Good Products and Services practiced in excellent ways in many places create sustainable businesses that add jobs to our economy.  Do your part and create some jobs today.

Here is to your success.  Please feel free to contact me if you would like ideas to make that happen.