Building Blocks of Business Development Success

When it comes to developing business, the goal is to make it habitual - and that requires finding activities that you enjoy. Fortunately, there are so many options that there really is something for almost everyone. The key is to find the activities that are right for you.

For instance, some people are good at developing business by leveraging speaking opportunities at conferences and events or in front of Clients. But public speaking isn’t for everyone. In fact, it’s not for most people. This may be due to the fact that almost half of all people have a fear of public speaking. Research indicates that speaking in public is often the number one phobia, outranking even the fear of death. So if you’re not a fan, you aren’t alone.

What about writing? There are a whole lot of lawyers who seem to be good at this. Just look all the English majors who end up self-selecting for law school. So if you are one of them, go for it. Just remember that business development by pen can be a long-term strategy. It can take a while to become a respected authority. The most important thing is to make sure that you write about topics that are relevant to potential clients and that you write for the publications they read. If you aren’t sure what they read, ask them. It’s a great way to start a dialogue.

While speaking and writing are popular among lawyers and are both good methods for things like credentialing, it’s also important to appreciate that these activities, by themselves, usually will not get you business. Instead, they will help to enhance your reputation and establish you as an authority. They are the building blocks that help to lay the groundwork for where the real business development begins…