#013 What does a strategic conversation look like?

IN THIS EPISODE:Do you wish your team members were having more strategic conversations with your key accounts? Do you have a clear understanding of what strategy is? Does your team have a clear understanding of what strategy is? It’s fair to say that the S word – strategy – gets bandied around a lot in business - we even talk about it as one of our guiding pillars for success in KAM. And with words that get so heavily used, it’s common for the waters to get muddied and the definition to become overcomplicated, leading to overthinking activities and behaviours. Do you let the words you use with your key accounts do the heavy lifting - rather than developing the skills to open up more curious, value-based conversations - looking at a longer-term vision and the actions that will get your there? In this episode I take a look at the topic of strategy, with brand strategist Shelley Röstlund. Shelley works with subject matter experts to clarify their brand purpose and value by leveraging a blend of brand archetypes, belief systems, customer insights & core product refining.  With Shelley having strategic conversations on a daily basis with her clients, I was keen to hear her thoughts and dig deep on this topic. With our clients, at KAMGuru, we work heavily on developing teams to have more strategic conversations with their most important customers, ultimately forging the trusted partnerships they desire, and developing long term profitability. With strategy being such an important component to understanding our customers, it’s so important that, as KAM Pros, we are able to get a firm grip on the strategic skillset, empowering us to truly Become the expert in the customer’s world.   HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS EPISODE:We really peel back a few layers of the strategic onion in this episode. Shelley and I dig into: How to define strategy, in a business context Why does it become so complicated? The value of having strategic conversations with clients, and how to have them Shelley shares some top tips