{"id":3664,"date":"2019-10-03T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-03T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sonusbenefits.com\/if-you-wont-why-would-they-a-precautionary-note-for-leadership\/"},"modified":"2019-10-03T13:04:08","modified_gmt":"2019-10-03T13:04:08","slug":"if-you-wont-why-would-they-a-precautionary-note-for-leadership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonusbenefits.com\/if-you-wont-why-would-they-a-precautionary-note-for-leadership\/","title":{"rendered":"If You Won\u2019t, Why Would They? A Precautionary Note for Leadership"},"content":{"rendered":"

With marketing practices changing so dramatically over the past decade, it’s become increasingly clear that if your organization isn’t able to keep up, you’ll get left in the dust by companies who are rolling with the tide of new online marketing tools. <\/span>If you look around the organization and feel <\/span>frustrated by a lack of clear improvement<\/span>, it’s time to <\/span>review<\/span> your <\/span>own <\/span>involvement.<\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Many companies are still <\/span>working under the impression that the job of marketing <\/span>and communications <\/span>belongs solely to the marketing department<\/span>. But they’re <\/span>grossly mistaken. Marketing is there to roll out initiatives, <\/span>look for <\/span>new ways of engaging prospects and customers, help maintain relationships with existing customers, and help communicate message<\/span>s <\/span>across platforms. <\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

But as social media has taken a front seat in the world of marketing, it <\/span>has<\/span> becom<\/span>e <\/span>increasingly important for <\/span>both <\/span>the sales department <\/span>and leadership <\/span>to get involved<\/span> <\/span>in the communication <\/span>as well<\/span>. <\/span>And being honest, not everyone loves this new direction. <\/span>There are plenty of challenges that come along with <\/span>establishing new behaviors<\/span>. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

You might be having trouble getting your sales team to participate on social media by liking, commenting, and sharing content your marketing team is rolling out. Or you could be <\/span>trying to implement a new CRM that requires your sales team to input data on their <\/span>contacts, but<\/span> running into resistance from the team. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

If <\/span>any of these scenarios <\/span>sound familiar, you need to ask yourself if you<\/span>, as a leader,<\/span> are part of the problem. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

If you won’t do it, why would they? <\/h3>\n

You’ve got a lot on your plate, and, if you’re being honest, sharing content on social media <\/span>may not feel as though it should be a <\/span>priority for you. <\/span>W<\/span>hy take precious time out of your day to do what you see as the job of marketing<\/span>? <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Because it matters to your clients, prospects, and team members. That’s why it should be a priority.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

The frustrating truth is that just giving the go-ahead to new initiatives isn’t enough. If you want to see your sales team get on board and start engaging on social media, or correctly using a new CRM, but you aren’t taking the time to do so yourself, you’re setting <\/span>everyone<\/span> up for failure. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Proving value <\/h3>\n

When people are comfortable with a system they’ve been using for a long time,<\/span> <\/span>it’s difficult<\/span> <\/span>to get them to change their practices.<\/span> They have to see it as a valued priority in the organization and y<\/span>ou<\/span>r actions dictate what your team prioritizes. If they don’t see you actively prioritizing the implementation of change, they won’t believe it matters. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

By participating,<\/span> and leading it,<\/span> you are showing that you believe in the value of the initiative. If it’s important enough for you, it becomes important enough for them. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Accountability  <\/h3>\n

Take accountability for your impact on the success of new initiatives. <\/span>H<\/span>old your<\/span>self and your <\/span>team accountable for their participation. Just saying, <\/span>“That sounds great! Let’s review progress in a month”<\/span><\/i> isn’t good enough. To help your team stay on track and hold them accountable you can:<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n