Strategic Storyboarding

From Dog and Pony Show To A Million in Sales

I just got off the phone with a high-powered consultant who is hot on using strategic storyboarding with her clients. Now I know why. She has so much business these days, she doesn't even have time to add new clients. So, I can't give her full name. Let's just call her "E" since she's up to her eyeballs in clients and made me swear I'd keep her identity secret. E does high-level HR consulting and works with all kinds of clients to plan how their packages can best serve their employees. She took pity on her poor client work group--you know the ones who have to sit through endless consultant presentations. Once you start talking numbers…Benefits, retirement packages, compensation options…you just watch folks' eyes glaze over. E was tired of doing things in the usual boring way. She took a risk and departed from typical consulting techniques of discovery, needs analysis and endless show-and-tell case studies. Instead, she pulled out the paper and invited her clients to gather 'round for an old-fashioned brainstorming session. As ideas started rolling, she captured thoughts and suggestions right on the spot. In a colorful visual map. A strategic storyboard of options. More ideas kept flying. She put those ideas on the map. And guess what happened? Not only did this group have a wall full of powerful and specific ideas. She is building an incredibly powerful relationship with these people. A relationship that's produced over $1 million in communication revenue.  As she told me about this, I got goose bumps. That's a lot of profitable work. And it all came from going the road less traveled. The road of engaging instead of preaching. The road of valuing your client's input. Stepping out from the tedious 'dog and pony' business development meeting. Yes, she took a risk--but WOW did it pay off. If you and I were sitting side-by-side now, I'd put up a map on the wall. And we could plan together. Plan precisely how you can use visual maps to grow your business. Where can you engage your clients, build strong relationships and grow your profits? Pick from this short list to get started today: Business development meeting Performance management meeting Mentoring team members Guiding executive visioning retreats Clarifying marketing competitive edge Planning new product launches Or perhaps your work is not in meetings these days. If that's the case, meet with yourself. With strategic storyboards, you'll find it's easy and fast to clarify thinking, focus actions and measure results. Pick from this short list to use storyboarding in your own meetings--to get your ideas rolling about projects, products and profits. Organize a project plan Structure fitness and self-care strategy Write a report or article Strategize client outreach Plan a marketing campaign Project-manage a family reunion or holiday get-together Whether you're in front of people or working at a distance, step out of the tedium of "same-old-same-old" meetings. Use visual maps and storyboards to get more done…and have more fun doing it!