I help professionals and firms become the Go-To-Expert. Unusually for someone with an Engineering Degree, I accidentally became a writer and used my knowledge on social media to write the current best-selling and award-winning book on networking, The FT Guide To Business Networking. (75 five star reviews on Amazon- and read the 1st chapter for free here) People frequently talk about me as someone who really knows her stuff – which may be the reason I have, over the last decade, worked with over 100 partners, coached and trained over 1000 professionals at every level of the UK’s most ambitious professional practices.
I’ve always loved a challenge which is why I have solved the problem in my next book, which has perplexed many consultants, lawyers, surveyors, architects and accountants – ‘How to make partner and still have a life’. (Published by Kogan Page in November 2012)
The Excedia Group was founded by myself and Jon Baker to bring clarity, perspective and knowledge to help our clients achieve their business goals. Over 75% of our work comes from professional service firms - both large and small, helping them get more clients via referrals utilising networking and social media. Over 50% of the Excedia group’s clients are small professional practices of between 1-50 employees.
My work splits into about 50% Executive & Business Coaching with Partners, Practice Owners & Potential Partners, with the rest split between training, consultancy and writing.
I adore writing, (as well as helping others achieve their goals without having to sell their soul) which is why I blog regularly at Partnership Potential, Joined Up Networking, How to make partner and still have a life and venture-Now
2012-09-02 10:43 - 1110 reads
When we are working with professional service firms (from the smallest to the largest) and small businesses helping them successfully use social media, we always talk about content and content planning at some point.
Successful social media implementation is not about how well you can press the buttons or understand the technology, but how consistently you produce valuable content for your target audience.
2012-08-28 10:42 - 1145 reads
There are three different types of content that you or your business can share on social media – these are:
1) Original content which you create yourself
2) Content that you have produced as a result of curating other’s content
3) Content that you have recycled from other content that you have.
2012-08-20 07:32 - 859 reads
When I first started my own business, I knew that the best way to win business was via networking. So, I joined my local CIPD committee (my professional body and supposedly the best way to meet HR or L&D managers with a budget – but that’s another story!) and signed up to a fortnightly, one professional only networking group. I also went to a few mix and mingle events.
Then I waited.
Waited for the new business that I had been promised would come my way, if I worked the room and remembered to follow up with people I had met.
2012-08-13 09:41 - 614 reads
I was talking with a new client last week, and she explained to me that she wasn’t one of those people who found it easy just to pick up the phone and talk to people. Now, keeping in touch is more than being able to pick up the phone (see 27 new (and not so new) ways to keep in touch with your network and (7 tools to help you keep in touch with your network) – but how do you get comfortable with picking up the phone and speaking to them without a prescribed agenda?
Here are my thoughts:
1. Identify what you are worried about
More often than not, if you don’t like picking up the phone and have an unplanned call, it’s because you are worried about something. So, what is that something?
Will I look stupid?
Will they think I am trying to sell something?
Will I know what to say?
2012-08-06 09:29 - 648 reads
One of the questions I am asked frequently when running training sessions for accountants and lawyers, is should I connect with my colleagues on LinkedIn?
The answer is a resounding yes. For these reasons:
Dragons' Den judges James Caan and Deborah Meaden and social entrepreneur Karen Darby are some of the successful entrepreneurs who feature in our exclusive videos.