The Engaging Brand

How Leaders Can "Drive" Business Success

When I was 14, Dad said "We need to get you ready for driving". I looked a little puzzled as there was still 3 years to go before I could start to 'learn'. He looked and said "Yes, true but if we coach now, you will never need to learn!" So how did he do it

• From 14 each journey - I navigated using an old map, and he tested me on the road signs.
• He then talked to me about gears and explained why we had gears. Then I had to tell him when to change gears, later I got to use the gear stick and change gears for him.
• I took over the maintenance of the car - checking the oil, tyre pressures, water levels, brake fluid and he showed me how the engine worked.
• We had a ride on lawn mower and he used that to show me how to park...between 2 dustbins!
• With a few weeks to go, he took me up to a local farm and used their paddock to give me the first experience of driving a car.

I turned 17 and passed my test within a week. Why?

• He had wanted me to succeed...so invested in my skills before I needed them.
• He knew that understanding the mechanics of the car, helped me to respect the car.....helped me to see how to get the best performance of the car. (Maintaining people is as important as driving the inspiration)
• He used a step by step approach to learning the new skills.
• He trusted in my ability to learn and develop.....and to help me build that confidence he gave me a safe environment in which to make mistakes.

I think there are huge parallels with succession planning. Planning ahead, investing the time, developing the skills step by step, mixture of theory and practice....it is not about what skills people have now, it is seeing the inner potential and both of you enjoying the journey of discovery.

Engaging the Brains of Business

I have been reading Brain Rules which is a fascinating insight into how the brain works and how we can engage brains within the business world. (I am interviewing John for the podcast later this month) Here are some insights that I have learned about for the business world

• The brain on average is 2% of body weight but takes 20% of the energy that we consume.
• The learning performance is deeply affected by the emotional environment in which the learning takes place.
• We lose attention every 10 minutes.
• Emotional arousal focuses attention on the gist of an experience at the expense of the details.
• We need to derive meaning from the words to recall the details
• Interruptions cause a 50% increase in how long it takes to complete a task and will lead to 50% more errors
• People usually forget 90% of what they learn within 30 days
• When presenting, the audience needs to be hooked in the first 3 minutes.
• The brain can hold 7 pieces of information for less than 30 seconds.
• A 26 minute nap can increase performance by 34%
• People learn better from a combination of words and pictures
• Vision takes up half of the brains resources

Show #164 - Personal Branding and Gen Y

Show 164 of The Engaging Brand leadership and marketing podcast is ready just for you. To subscribe or listen on your PC now - both for free, you don't need to download anything - it is all explained at the end of the post.

Today I talk with Dan Schawbel about personal branding. Dan is from the Gen Y population and has used social media to build a strong personal brand. We talk about

• What is personal branding
• Is personal branding developing because of the employment figures or a need for celebrity status?
• Is Gen Y ageist!! - Link to Dan's Blog post - Gen Y ageism and Communicating Across the Generations
• Is it right to categorise people by age?
• Tips on building a personal brand
• How to engage the Generation Y population

To find out more about Dan's work on personal branding visit personal branding website, personal branding magazine or download a free sample of  Dan's new personal branding magazine. Dan also mentions a great website for Gen Y called Brazen Careerist

If you have feedback for me on the show or topics that you would like me to cover then e-mail me at anna@theengagingbrand.com or hop over to Facebook group for The Engaging Brand.

How can listen to the Engaging Brand

1) You can listen on your PC now without downloading any software just click here and it will take you to the blubrry page.Then press the play button!

2) You can subscribe to the show via iTunes or

3) If you use a different podcatcher then you can subscribe using the following  http://www.podcasternews.com/feeds/enbr.xml

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Lessons on Blogger Outreach

I often get pitched for new products and services and wanted to share some thoughts on how people and companies could make more of this kind of marketing program by way of example. Social media gives you great access to people, however social media should not be used as a vehicle but as part of the brand engagement strategy. Too often people are using social media for quantity and not quality of the networks

1. I was recently sent a new phone - an Orbit XDA. I was sold once I opened the box. I loved it! I used it and blogged about it, not because I had to because I wanted to...this device solved some of the problems that I had with my Virgin contract. I emailed 3 times to say, look I want to transfer to O2, this phone is fantastic...guess what....NOTHING! No one contacted me back, no one followed up...the result I felt that O2 did not want me as a customer. At the moment I remain with Virgin, looking for a new provider. What a wasted opportunity...what a waste of a customer...what a waste of a blogger outreach program! Sure I blogged that I loved the phone but imagine if they had answered my emails and brought me on board. They would have converted me to an O2 evangelist for their brand...now, I love the phone but doubt if I would use O2. Lesson - Don't just reach out, convert the converted!
2. I was approached by 3MobileBuzz to test out the new dongle. I have had trouble setting it up, not sure why, but now it works brilliantly. Throughout the problems Sam e-mailed me, checked on the status, even emailed me to see if it was now working. Truly personalised service. Again, I love the product, it has saved me money and now makes it so easy to work on the move. Again, they potentially have an evangelist for their brand....let's see if they pass the final test by wanting to convert me to a customer. Lesson - Personalise the program because you personalise the brand
3. The outreach has to be relevant to either myself or the listeners to the podcast or the readers of this blog. If it doesn't provide value to me, then I will ignore it. Outreach programs too often just use the technology because ...well they can, but to gain true ROI then you need to target people that you can show you can provide value to. Lesson - Outreach to out value your competitors

Outreach programs should be targeted, be personalised, be transparent, be valuable...but most of all be ready to convert the recipient from a blogger to a customer.

Show #163 - Science of Attracting Customers

Show 163 of The Engaging Brand leadership and marketing podcast is ready just for you. To subscribe or listen on your PC now - both for free, you don't need to download anything - it is all explained at the end of the post.

What an interview today, I am talking to Jimmy Vee and Travis Miller who talk us through how to build a marketing campaign that attracts customers, based on their book Gravitational Marketing. They offer many free resources at the Gravitational Marketing site as well as a free starter pack at Start Attracting Customers which you should check out. We discuss

How important is it to understand your customer?

How can you target your customer?

What are the keys to successful marketing?

How can you create a viral marketing campaign?

Is it the product or the experience that is "spreadable"?

Practical marketing techniques to spread the brand message

If you have feedback for me on the show or topics that you would like me to cover then e-mail me at anna@theengagingbrand.com or hop over to Facebook group for The Engaging Brand.

How can listen to the Engaging Brand

1) You can listen on your PC now without downloading any software just click here and it will take you to the blubrry page.Then press the play button!

2) You can subscribe to the show via iTunes or

3) If you use a different podcatcher then you can subscribe using the following  http://www.podcasternews.com/feeds/enbr.xml

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Top 5 Reasons Employees Felt Valued

I was digging through some letters from employees that I received after taking over an underperforming department and turning the performance from the worst in the company, to the best within 12 months.
Here are the top 5 reasons for the change in the level of employee engagement

1. Anna walking around and talking to us, like real people. Talking to us about the issues and taking action.
2. The fact we are thanked for working hard, working overtime and management now recognize our contribution.
3. We now have a clear idea how we contribute to the company's success.
4. We are listened to, if we have to live with a situation it is explained to us why.
5. There is a fun side to work. Targets are now not just numbers but themed for the month, team briefings are themed and managers now smile and take the time to have a joke.

Interesting that none were related to pay, none were related to huge changes. Just outside the top 5 was development. New and existing employees were put through development plans and monthly training. All of this delivered in house at no cost. The improved performace dropped £1million to the bottom line....not a bad return on investment ratio!

Often people think that employee engagement needs money, needs large budgets. Obviously money helps! However, in my experience feeling values is about day to day interaction with managers and leaders. How people are dealt with, how they are treated as individuals. Employee engagement sounds a grand phrase...in reality it is treating people with respect and like the talented adult that they are....

Don't let EGO Get In The Way of Your Brand

Developing brands over time can be hampered by either a personal or corporate ego. Brands that succeed over the medium, long term fight against

E = Expecting past success to be the reason for future success
G = Generating more internal talk, more internal meetings than external focus and external conversations
O = Overconfidence and under-dreaming

There is a fine line between confidence and over confidence. Web 2.0 means that you now have tool at your fingertips to keep that E.G.O at bay....by listening and acting on the feedback.

Show #162 - How Giving Can Create Brand Success

Show 162 of The Engaging Brand leadership and marketing podcast is ready just for you. To subscribe or listen on your PC now - both for free, you don't need to download anything - it is all explained at the end of the post.

Today I am talking to Bob Burg the successful co-author of The Go Giver. You can find out more about the Go-Giver and download the first chapter for free at the Go-Giver site. I love business books that are based on stories, and this book takes an example of a young professional who is facing the business challenge of how to hit his monthly goals. What is the business secret to creating consumer advocates for your brand, how do you build a successful business. We discuss

What is difference between price and value?

How you grow your income

Does success breed success in business? Is it easier to be a "giver" when you are already successful?

How important is your personal influence?

The importance of authenticity in business success

The importance of receiving, the value you give another person by allowing them to give to you.

A discussion on feedback as a leader

If you have feedback for me on the show or topics that you would like me to cover then e-mail me at anna@theengagingbrand.com or hop over to Facebook group for The Engaging Brand.

How can listen to the Engaging Brand

1) You can listen on your PC now without downloading any software just click here and it will take you to the blubrry page.Then press the play button!

2) You can subscribe to the show via iTunes or

3) If you use a different podcatcher then you can subscribe using the following  http://www.podcasternews.com/feeds/enbr.xml

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