Inspiration and a 'gift with purchase'.

Through a large portion of my career there seemed to be an unwritten rule about keeping my head down, getting my work done and not making myself a “tall poppy” by looking outside the organization – either networking, building my own profile, or spending time working with others beyond my immediate sphere who may or may not have been competitors.

I don’t believe in that. I believe in looking up, out and around. Network is everything. I take inspiration from others ALL the time and sometimes from the most unexpected places. My team are used to me coming to them with a new idea inspired by a random billboard ad or conversation I have had.

Some of my closest friends are also CMOs at what might be considered competitor organizations and still they support me, share insight, problem solve – and we collectively admire and celebrate our wins and great work, regardless.

Broadening horizons and learning from others. It’s something I have tried to bring to my own team. To challenge thinking, to step back from the day to day and provide some inspiration, build leadership and marketing craft skills – and to allow some time for reflection, creativity and fun.

For the last two years I have run a series of what I call our “Connect Call”. They all follow a similar format. It’s not rocket science but it works.

The calls are virtual, quarterly and usually around two hours in length. They are not focused on the business per se and instead are built around topics and themes that are aligned to the work we do, skills we want to build or to inspiring new thinking. My senior team members take it in turns to tag team and act as call hosts – they run the call on the day and they put the detailed agenda together.

Past topics have included:

·?????? Storytelling in B2B Marketing. What makes a great hook and narrative?

·?????? How to manage your stakeholders (the good, the bad and the ugly)

·?????? What B2B marketers can learn from channels like Gaming

·?????? Inspiration - The best of the creative from Cannes Lions - B2B and beyond.

·?????? Building your personal brand - from a photo to how you show up

·?????? The account-based marketing mindset

The meeting structure always follows the same format.

1.??Introduction: Any relevant business update or headlines to be shared. This is the shortest section.

2.??Inspiration: Always includes an external speaker who has the lion's share of time on the agenda. Usually someone from my network or someone who has impressed us at an industry event and where we have wanted to learn more from them. A huge thank you to those of you who have already given your time so generously!

3.?Education: The learning bit that we all have to know, embrace or know that is coming in the business or relates to the main agenda topic. I sandwich this between other things to keep energy high

4.?'Gift with Purchase': This is inspired by Keith Ferrazzi's mantra of generosity when building relationships and networks. It's the take-away for everyone that makes what they have learned actionable and usable immediately. It may be a template, a guidebook, an action plan, access to training or even an open hours session to problem solve together – but something that team members can take away immediately and use in their day to day.

5.??Celebration: This is the part of the call that I do shout outs. Recognizing success of team members from across the organization – those who have won awards, delivered amazing work or gone above and beyond to team and help their colleagues. Nominated by their teams and celebrated by the entire marketing community.

It’s a simple but effective formula and the frequency and the external speaker inclusion means it’s a call people show up for and keep their attention.

If you want to use the format – please do and share your ideas of what you do with your teams or how you would make it better? Oh and if you have a topic suggestion and would like to be a guest speaker on my call please let me know.