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QED Business Development

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June 5, 2017
Paul McAllister
How to ask for the business

The biggest concern I have heard raised by people over the years is ‘I struggle to ask for the business.’ Most people seem to have enough going on, seem to have enough meetings, but really struggle to get down to the underlying purpose of the interaction, i.e., meeting an identified need with a valuable service. They talk about feelings of embarrassment, of sensitivity, when reaching the point of the commercial end of the conversation. 

In my coaching, I always ask if people value the advice they give, and on almost 100% of the occasions professionals do indeed see value in what they deliver.  In fact, they’re proud of their work.  So why be embarrassed .....

How to ask for the business
July 4, 2016
Paul McAllister
How to assess the cost of 'bad' (inefficient) ...

How much do you charge per hour? $300? $500? $800 or more?  Now look at your calendar for the last 10 weeks and identify the number of meetings you had that would be called 'business development' meetings.  You know the ones - a coffee catch-up, a lunch with an existing client, a networking breakfast or maybe a lunch with a referrer. I encourage people to have at least 1 meeting per week that could legitimately be referred to as a BD meeting. Now if we add up the time invested in each of these interactions over the 10 weeks, including preparation time and time getting there and back, let's assume you've spent, conservatively, 20 hours on BD. 

How to assess the cost of 'bad' (inefficient) BD practices
Paul McAllister
October 1, 2024

Since 2018 - My original and best Meeting Planning tool for professionals – The Share / Learn / Act (SLA) model

Paul McAllister
October 1, 2024
Since 2018 - My original and best Meeting Planning tool for professionals – The Share / Learn / Act (SLA) model

It's time to give you an insight into what I think is the best meeting planner in the market - the SLA model. I've been using it to help my clients have better meetings since 2018.

Paul McAllister
October 30, 2023

20 years consulting, 1000's of coaching sessions - 7 tips - all in under 500 words

Paul McAllister
October 30, 2023
20 years consulting, 1000's of coaching sessions - 7 tips - all in under 500 words

Ok - I've reached a milestone event - 20 years helping professionals win business. Here's what I know…

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20-years-consulting-1000s-coaching-sessions-7-tips-all-mcallister%3FtrackingId=R10KUKyItbJwSZoWhvNEYg%253D%253D/?trackingId=R10KUKyItbJwSZoWhvNEYg%3D%3D

Paul McAllister
May 2, 2023

Spend ‘points’ to reach quicker, more inclusive and stickier agreement at this year’s planning session

Paul McAllister
May 2, 2023
Spend ‘points’ to reach quicker, more inclusive and stickier agreement at this year’s planning session

Here's a simple idea to help anyone involved in a strategic planning session this year. It will get everyone's input and ensure you reach a consensus more quickly.

Paul McAllister
April 3, 2023

What is the number one source of new work - and why don't more people tap into it more often?

Paul McAllister
April 3, 2023
What is the number one source of new work - and why don't more people tap into it more often?

So where should you look to find the easiest, most convenient source of new work?

Paul McAllister
March 28, 2022

What have we actually learned from the PANDEMIC (as well as the Oscars)?

Paul McAllister
March 28, 2022
What have we actually learned from the PANDEMIC (as well as the Oscars)?

So enough about the Oscars, already. I'm shocked by what's happening in the world right now, but want to ask - How many of us have taken true stock of the impact of the pandemic? I can only address it here in simple terms, with a BD focus, but boy....we have a lot to process.

Paul McAllister
October 25, 2021

The BD cohorts that need a post-lockdown shake-up - Which one are you?

Paul McAllister
October 25, 2021
The BD cohorts that need a post-lockdown shake-up - Which one are you?

Everyone is tired right now. But the end of lockdowns in Australia's biggest cities is here. So take a breath. Take a well-earned break too. And reflect on what happens next. It might just be the tonic you need.

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/bd-cohorts-need-post-lockdown-shake-up-which-one-you-mcallister/?trackingId=Vo9n%2FbUZZS2BhvenK2LJjA%3D%3D

Paul McAllister
May 17, 2021

It takes two to BD - the crucial role of a navigator

Paul McAllister
May 17, 2021
It takes two to BD - the crucial role of a navigator

Why every meeting is enhanced by taking a second person with you.

Paul McAllister
May 17, 2021

Do you remember the good times?

Paul McAllister
May 17, 2021
Do you remember the good times?

You need to be able to raise your concentration levels for a BD meeting. You need to be in the ‘flow’. How do you find it and get in the zone?

Paul McAllister
May 17, 2021

Practice makes (almost) perfect

Paul McAllister
May 17, 2021
Practice makes (almost) perfect

How much quality time goes into preparing for your next client or prospect call? Given how busy everyone is these days, isn’t it crucial to extract maximum value from each hour spent on BD?

Paul McAllister
October 19, 2020

Unpicking the lock (down)

Paul McAllister
October 19, 2020
Unpicking the lock (down)

Here’s 4 things to consider doing as we emerge from lockdown.

Paul McAllister
April 6, 2020

Why BD needs to lead - tips to get ahead of the pack

Paul McAllister
April 6, 2020
Why BD needs to lead - tips to get ahead of the pack

If there's ever been a need for BD skills, it's now. But the skills have to match the phases we're moving through. What are they and what should you be doing?

Paul McAllister
April 1, 2020

So I'm WFH. Now what for BD?

Paul McAllister
April 1, 2020
So I'm WFH. Now what for BD?

Okay. So you've got the corner of the third bedroom rigged with a desk and some wifi. You've put a lock on the door to keep the kids at bay. You've bought a powerboard to deal with all the new cables snaking their way across the floor. And you have figured out how to login and work from home. Now what?

Paul McAllister
October 31, 2019

Summer business development quiz - 10 Questions

Paul McAllister
October 31, 2019
Summer business development quiz - 10 Questions

What should you be doing as the holidays approach?

Paul McAllister
August 2, 2019

The easiest way to ask for the business

Paul McAllister
August 2, 2019
The easiest way to ask for the business

What’s the best way to construct a conversation where you can feel comfortable asking for the business? It just takes a little thought.

Paul McAllister
May 14, 2019

The urban myth of the 'old school tie' network

Paul McAllister
May 14, 2019
The urban myth of the 'old school tie' network

I recently had a coaching client who remarked on his supervisor's success in drawing on his old school alumni network to bring in work. This got me thinking...how much can you rely on the networks from your old school being useful in a business context?

My experience says its value is …..


Paul McAllister
March 22, 2019

How much business development do I need to do?

Paul McAllister
March 22, 2019
How much business development do I need to do?

How often do you need to be out having BD meetings? What is enough? And what is important? I get asked this a lot and provide some guidance here to help you get it right including an offer to access a simple tool to assist.

Paul McAllister
July 10, 2018

BD tips from extreme sports #2

Paul McAllister
July 10, 2018
BD tips from extreme sports #2

Apart from hanging on, and making sure you always peed downriver (!), what else did I learn that might be useful on a whitewater rafting trip?

Paul McAllister
July 6, 2018

BD tips from extreme sports #1

Paul McAllister
July 6, 2018
BD tips from extreme sports #1

I’ve been doing some exciting things recently which got me thinking about their BD applications. Here’s a few more tips.

Paul McAllister
July 6, 2018

Start-of-the-week BD tips #2

Paul McAllister
July 6, 2018
Start-of-the-week BD tips #2

I'm about to head off on some leave, so here's the few tips I'm implementing before I go.

Paul McAllister
July 6, 2018

Start-of-the-week BD tips #1

Paul McAllister
July 6, 2018
Start-of-the-week BD tips #1

I've posted ideas you could implement at the end of a week to keep your BD pipeline fresh. Here's some tips to kick off the week on the right note. The actions to set things going should take no more than 10 minutes

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