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Business Development Clinic: How can I conquer my nerves when networking?
Nerves can be helpful at times – after all, they can stop you wandering in where angels fear to tread. However, they can also jeopardise your performance – particularly when out and about at a networking event. Not everyone enjoys meeting new people. In fact, many professionals avoid attending networking events because of their dread and…
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Conflict Resolution Tip: Context is normally everything
Imagine this… You get on a train, planning to do some work on your iPad while you head into London. As the train progresses, it gets fuller and fuller. As a result, you move your coat and bag to let a family sit down next to you. The family is composed of a 5 year…
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How my daughter’s experience in the treetops can help you build your own confidence
About a month ago, my children and my husband embarked on the junior ‘go ape’ challenge. For those of you who are not familiar with ‘go ape’, this is an adventurous activity help up in the tree tops. The junior version involves zip wires, and going between the trees on ‘paths’ with various levels of…
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Business Development Clinic: 3 ways of dealing with a potential client who asks for a fee reduction
In this business development clinic, we are looking at the old ‘tough’ chestnut, of what to do with a potential client who says that you are too expensive. In this situation you have a range of choices available to you: 1) State the fee is what it is. In this scenario, you are calling the…
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Career Clinic: What is meant by “leadership”?
This was an interesting question which dropped into my inbox. First let me give you the back story. The question came from a highly senior technical specialist who had been head-hunted from a small firm, for a senior role in a top 5 firm. The technical specialist, let’s call them Sheila, was being promised partnership…
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Business Development Clinic: How can I get more confident when working the room
As you open the door, you see a room full of strangers. All talking, laughing…. your heart sinks. How will you break into a conversation? Will anyone want to talk to me? Wouldn’t people blank me if I’m not a partner? Why am I here… when I could be….? Whatever your reason for not being…
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Business Development Clinic: How to cope with objections from potential clients
You are in a business development meeting with a juicy new potential client, and then it gets awkward… I am wondering whether you are too big/small for us My concern is whether this project will get us the results we need Your fees seem to be quite expensive Do you think you have the people…