Working at an Enterprise is not for everyone. We all know of the "start-up" culture, where talent floods to smaller organizations in the hopes of getting an expanded role and leaving their mark. This is all good and great, and I have a HUGE level of respect for those who take the leap. But, there are others who are "Enterprise for Life" and thrive in maneuvering an products and companies into the future.
I find it a unique challenge working to drive actionable change, backed with data, to bring more innovation to how companies Go-To-Market. As an Account Based Marketer here at Pega, I am energized being at the intersection of our: customers, partners, sales, product, and other functions to help drive key messaging to those who would benefit from our products.
So, what are some of the steps you can take to help drive processes in a larger organization? Some of my thoughts below!
- Truly Understand The Product: I am not talking about reading the website, whitepapers, press releases, and other content. I am talking about getting hands on. Many large companies provide Product Trainings to employees that are often accessible for free. Take as many courses as you can, ask questions, and if you are note a "technical person"--get comfortable overcoming some hurdles.
- Understand Your Buyers: It is easy to just accept the status quo in a larger organization regarding who the buyers are. With different product offerings, your organization can (at least in principal) millions of potential buyers. My advice? Rely on your internal teams mentioned above, but do your own academic research on the topic. Follow Twitter accounts, industry events, podcasts, and the competition. Uncover insights and share them with your colleagues--you never know what will come of it.
- Identify Potential Gaps and Test It: Working with similar groups each and every day, it is sometimes a benefit of having fresh eyes on processes. Show legitimate interest in your colleagues, what they do, their goals, and concerns. If you role has the ability to do something, even at a small scale to make their job easier, try it. Start small, gather data, and iterate.
- Be a Connector: There is no one at your Enterprise that can answer every question that someone could possibly have. No, not even your VPs, SVPs, or C-suite. Everyone has their own area of expertise. As an employee, become familiar with each team you interact with, and act as a mechanism for others to communicate with the right people. Not only does this make your colleagues lives easier, it also paves the way for being involved in conversations that will teach you something new.
As someone navigating life in an Enterprise, I find it extremely energizing to do work that will positively impact customers across the globe. Working at a large organization does not have to be stagnant, slow moving, or stale.
There are always problems to be solved, so if you are not the decision maker, try these steps to start Innovating at your Enterprise.
