Everyone in an Organization is in Business Development — Even If It’s Not Your Job Title

You should always be prepared to promote your organization — weekends included.

Before you roll your eyes, hear us out.

This doesn’t mean working around the clock trying to drum up new business, but it does mean being open to making new relationships even outside the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Community mixers and local events are great places to build relationships, but they shouldn’t be the only places where connections are made.

So, whether you’re the CEO or a part-time office manager of a small business, everyone has a role to play in business development.

Let’s talk about why that’s important and some tips for promoting your organization if you’re not a sales-minded person.

You are Always Representing Your Organization

Even when you’re not on “the clock,” you’re representing your organization when you go out in public, especially if you’re wearing shirts, coats and other apparel that show off your organization’s logo.

If you’re pleasant to your waitstaff, hold the door for someone with their hands full, or do other good deeds; that will reflect positively on your organization.

Likewise, negative interactions hurt your ability to build relationships. It raises the question: “If this person is negative outside of work, how will they act during work?”

Anyone you interact with could be a potential client, so treat them like you would your current clients.

Always Have a 30-second Story Ready

You never know where you’re going to make a connection, so always be prepared.

It’s a good idea to have an outline of an elevator pitch in your head, ready to go when necessary. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but you’ll want to summarize what your organization does and what your role is within 30 seconds.

Remember, connections can happen anywhere, including:

• College campuses
• Friends and family
• Kids sporting events
• Golf outings

The best connections happen organically and often begin talking about things outside of work, whether it’s kids, vacations, sports or other hobbies.

There’s no rush to discuss business, so let the conversation happen naturally.

That growth that comes with building new relationships creates opportunities for all. So, even if you’re not the CEO of your organization, you could benefit from that growth — whether it’s expanding your role, a raise or a promotion.

Tips for Making Connections

Salespeople may be good conversationalists, but not everyone at an organization has those same skills.

If you struggle to make connections, here are some helpful tips.

1. Practice Elevator Pitch: It doesn’t have to be memorized word-for-word, but if you can confidently and succinctly discuss your organization and your role within 30 seconds, that goes a long way.
2. Wear your organization’s clothing: Wearing your organization’s logo is a great conversation starter, as it gives people an icebreaker question right off the bat.
3. Find podcasts on networking: There are a plethora of podcasts about networking and body language. These will help you fine-tune your approach and improve your interactions.
4. Set small goals: Don’t overwhelm yourself trying to build connections. If you’re attending your kid’s soccer game, introduce yourself to one other parent. If you’re going to a networking event, sometimes just getting out of the car is enough to be proud of. Small goals make the bigger goal more achievable.

Let’s Work Together

Business development isn’t a department; it’s a mindset. It’s a hard skill to master, but once everyone in your organization is on board, growth will happen naturally. Let’s talk about how we can help your organization flourish!