Category: Careers

A marketing leader analyzing the marketing framework on a whiteboard, illustrating the critical role of strategic frameworks in effective marketing leadership.

Always In Your Corner: Why The Marketing Framework Is The Secret To Effective Marketing Leadership

Nicholas Porter

It just happens. Marketing leaders get bogged down in the weeds. 

More often than not, they’re furiously multitasking 一 fine-tuning strategies, removing roadblocks, collaborating across the board, and, let’s not forget, managing feedback from every other department in the organization. 

After all, it’s no secret that marketing is the one function in almost every organization where strong opinions and input from every department is not just typical but expected.

It can be overwhelming. But, honestly? You can always rely on “one simple trick” that can ground even the busiest marketing leaders.

I’m not talking about a shiny new tactic or anything related to whatever trendy buzzword you heard on a podcast last week.

No, what I’m referring to is far more useful.

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Corporate team strategizing with AI to align sales and marketing goals

AI in Sales and Marketing Alignment: Kicking The Old School Tactics to the Curb (That Never Worked Anyway) and Changing The Game For Modern Times

Nicholas Porter

Let’s be real. You and I both know the “secrets” to achieving sales and marketing alignment. They’ve been out there for the taking since time immemorial. 

Are you still in the dark? Searching for the answers? Okay. Here ya go:

  • Start Talking. Begin by getting the marketing and sales chiefs in a room to hammer out some mutually beneficial strategies and define what winning looks like. 

  • Ensure Teams Are Communicating. Make sure sales and marketing teams meet regularly so sales can keep marketing in the loop with real talk from the front lines — i.e., what prospects and customers are actually saying. Turn these into brainstorming sessions where voices from both sides are heard, and quality and informed marketing efforts can then be devised.

  • Focus On Your Data. Does marketing have a blog that’s blowing up with views and engagement? That’s sales gold. Share it with sales so they can fold it into prospecting conversations and demos. It’s a no-brainer because it’s hard evidence that your audience is eating it up. 

If you have never considered these solutions, I’m happy I might have been able to help you consider how to fix some of the issues you are facing. 

But as B2B sales and marketing alignment has been a core focus of my work and interest for years now, I can confidently say those “solutions” are table stakes.

They are not groundbreaking strategies. They are simple recommendations that suggest two groups with a common goal should make the effort to speak to one another.

Notice I said “should” make the effort speak to one another. Because in my experience, they do not. 

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This image shows a desk with a keyboard and notebook within a workplace setting with the word "fraud" stamped across it. The image is designed to provoke discussion of feelings associated with professionals who experience imposter syndrome at work.

Are You Tired of Feeling Like a Fraud? Here Are the Secrets Of How To Overcome Imposter Syndrome And Negative Feelings of Self-Doubt

Nicholas Porter

This article was updated on June 10, 2024

Are you a successful professional that feels like a fraud or a failure? Do you enjoy those feelings? Yeah, I didn’t think so. But here’s the thing 一 you’re not alone.

It’s a phenomenon that has been studied extensively. It’s called imposter syndrome and it manifests itself as persistent feelings of self-doubt, particularly among working professionals. I’ll let Harvard Business Review take it from here: 

“Imposter syndrome can be defined as a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success. ‘Imposters’ suffer from chronic self-doubt and a sense of intellectual fraudulence that override any feelings of success or external proof of their competence. They seem unable to internalize their accomplishments, however successful they are in their field. High achieving, highly successful people often suffer, so imposter syndrome doesn’t equate with low self-esteem or a lack of self-confidence.”

Experiencing imposter syndrome at work seems to be its own special kind of difficult. Feelings of professional inadequacy seem to impact the smartest and most accomplished people I know.

It has even led these same individuals to question if they should change careers.

They simply can’t shake a persistent and nagging feeling that their “incompetence” will be discovered and their careers will be over.

What is going on here?

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