Lisa Nirell | Fast Company

8 Surprising Ways To Delight Customers

BY Lisa NirellTue Feb 7, 2012

Look across the universe of possible ways you could delight your clients this month. It's easier and less costly than you think. Skip the traditional "drinks and dinner" route and consider these fresh alternatives. READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

The Power Of Stillness

BY Lisa NirellTue Jan 10, 2012

Instead of waiting a year to take a retreat, schedule a strategy session, or review your customer accounts, what would be possible if you scheduled five minutes every day to reflect in silence? Before you break into a cold sweat at the thought of temporarily turning off your electronic devices, consider the benefits of this new daily routine. READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Is Inertia Winning Over Innovation?

BY Lisa NirellMon Nov 14, 2011

We recently surveyed our B2B community, and inertia was a recurring theme. Credit is tight, buyers are slow to make purchasing decisions, and global economic malaise hampers innovation. When it comes to investing in growth, today's volatile economy clearly makes many of us risk averse. READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Innovation Is A State Of Mind, Not A Budget Line Item

BY Lisa NirellFri Oct 28, 2011

A new report from Booz & Co. debunks the myth that there is a direct correlation between R&D spending and higher levels of innovation; consider these findings as you determine where to invest your company's growth dollars.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Re-Imagining What A Law Firm Can Be: Scrapping Billable Hours For A More Client-Friendly B2B Service

BY Lisa NirellMon Oct 3, 2011

Years after corporations have complained about billable hours and unnecessary fees, most law firms are still deploying industrial age business models to serve their clients. One firm, Clearspire, has thrown aside the "hours for dollars" model, and their approach has something to offer any B2B company. READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Customer-Centric Strategies To Escape The Commodity Trap

BY Lisa NirellTue Sep 6, 2011

If you have been dragged into the land of commoditization, your job is to escape as quickly as you can. It is a dubious place to live with marginal value or spark. Price pressures and arm’s length relationships with the ultimate decision maker will eventually sink you. Things will not improve unless you deploy customer-centric strategies. READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Why Customer-Driven Culture Will Stall Your Company's Growth

BY Lisa NirellWed Aug 24, 2011

When your biggest customer calls with an emergency request, do you dial 911? Chances are you are setting off unintended fire alarms--and causing your profits to lose altitude.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Meditating On Growth Challenges

BY Lisa NirellWed Jul 27, 2011

As I sat across the City Club table from Mike, I realized the economic recovery was not yet in full swing. And the stress and strain of just making a living is affecting experts at all levels.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Why Technology Is The Special Sauce In Growth Planning

BY Lisa NirellFri Jul 1, 2011

Technology is becoming increasingly pervasive in B2B buyer-seller relationships and strategic marketing endeavors. That’s why I could not resist the French-American Chamber of Commerce’s recent seminar with VINT's Erik vanOmmeren. READ»

LISA NIRELL | Comment

Are Your Presentations Powerful Or Pathetic? 4 Persuasive Presentation Preparation Tips

BY Lisa NirellWed Jun 15, 2011

Are you a PowerPoint junkie? Do you pack 20 pounds of content into one slide? Then you are afflicted with a chronic case of PPD (Pathetic Presentation Disorder). Here are time-tested tips to help you effectively engage your audience.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

How To Give Your Customers A Voice In Growth Planning

BY Lisa NirellThu Jun 2, 2011

When you can attribute a 20% revenue gain to a customer centric culture or program, you get noticed. And that's exactly what happened to several Voice of the Customer thought leaders during the annual Allegiance Engage Summit 2011 in Deer Valley, Utah. READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Business After Bin Laden

BY Lisa NirellFri May 6, 2011

Ask any decorated leader -- military or business -- what keeps them focused and energized. They will echo what former U.S. General Joseph Hoar told me in 2002: a daily commitment to quietly reflect and re-evaluate our course. As world citizens discuss and debate the proper way to respond to the successful capture and killing of Osama bin Laden, we face the same opportunity.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

How to Turbo-Charge Your Growth Plan in One Hour or Less

BY Lisa NirellThu Mar 24, 2011

Business growth reviews take discipline--and they can also be highly rewarding.This EnergizeGrowth® Plan Review Process removes some of the fear and mystery. Use this with your teams and stakeholders to take your growth to the next level.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Nine Common Obstacles That Derail Growth

BY Lisa NirellWed Mar 16, 2011

As you approach the end of the first quarter of 2011, your growth plan and marketing activities are well underway. How will you keep them fresh and relevant? READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

The Secret Life of Customer Advisory Boards, Part 3

BY Lisa NirellMon Mar 7, 2011

A Customer Advisory Board requires significant time and emotional commitment across your organization. What ongoing activities will nurture fiercely loyal customer tribes and nonstop innovation?READ»

CUSTOMER GROWTH STRATEGIES | Comment

The Secret Life of Customer Advisory Boards, Part 2

BY Lisa NirellWed Mar 2, 2011

In our previous post, we presented the common definition and traits of an effective CAB. If you have determined that a CAB is right for you, these nine strategies will help you design the right program for the right customers.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

The Secret Life of Customer Advisory Boards

BY Lisa NirellThu Feb 24, 2011

Focus group meetings and customer recognition events provide transitory business value. Today, deep dialog and collaboration are the most effective path to customer retention and innovation.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Choose Civility

BY Lisa NirellFri Feb 4, 2011

Civility--the way we treat our fellow humans and our comportment--is on everyone's mind these days. Events from Cairo to Arizona have heightened our awareness and frustration. Here are five things you can do to raise the civility standards in your organization.READ»

B2B TRENDS 2011 | Comment

Five B2B Trends for 2011

BY Lisa NirellTue Dec 7, 2010

Some B2B companies are finally awakening from a 2 year hibernation period and pursuing top line growth again. Will you be one of them? If yes, don't ignore these five trends as you finalize your 2011 growth and marketing plans.READ»

BEND OREGON BUSINESS | Comment

Marketing Planning 101: Three Tips to Stay Open for Business

BY Lisa NirellSat Oct 23, 2010

When a well-intended local tourism promotion agency decided to shift their marketing strategy to promote more in-migration and job growth and take a bite out of a reported 14% unemployment rate, I was encouraged. Then their cheeky "Top 10 Reasons to Move Here" list ruined their best-laid plans.READ»