At it’s most basic, business development can be described as the ideas and activities that help make a business better. This includes increasing revenues, growth in terms of business expansion, improving profitability by building strategic partnerships, and making strategic, long term business decisions.
As a technical consultant, small business owner or entrepreneur you may not realise it yet but it should be one of the skillsets that you actively improve.
In this post I provide three reasons why business development is important to you.
Do the Work You Want To Do
Relying on others to feed you work is fine when you stat out in an industry and are learning the ropes. However, as you gain experience you begin to find the work specialisation that suits you. Developing a career around the work that gives you the most satisfaction requires proactivity and thought.
Why would you hope that others are going to source the right work for you?
Instead, develop your business. Cultivating clients with a burning need for your skillset makes certain that you will do the work that you want to do.
Gain an Industry-Wide Reputation
Building a reputation in your field is the best way to do the work you love. Actively pursuing business development truly helps in this regard. Entering the market and talking to customers about your expertise. Discussing client issues and offering solutions to their problems. Posting thoughtful topics to LinkedIn about your specialisation. Activities like this grow your reputation as the go to person.
Compare this to sitting at your desk doing project work that others have won for you. Where other team members are interacting with the customers. How will the wider market get to know you for what you do?
The answer is of course purposeful business development.
Control Your Destiny
Undertaking purposeful business development is all about controlling your own destiny. Doing the work you want. Developing a reputation across your industry. Steering your career in your own direction. As a leader growing your team and business the way you want.
Recognising that the business world is a chaotic place. Ultimately practicing purposeful business development gives you more power over both your immediate situation and long term goals.
Why is business development important
Are you looking to begin your Business Development journey but are not quite sure where to start? Download my quick start guide to work winning. This gives a series of simple activities to quickly set you on the right path.
For a definition of business development you can check out my take in this post here.
If you are getting value out of my weekly free content I’d ask that you consider buying my new book. It’s a simple yet comprehensive framework to base your work winning activity around and full of practical application to get you started now. It is available to order on Amazon now.
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If you want a more proactive and personal approach to your business development I am available to help. Through face to face video calls I’ll set you on the right path and keep you accountable to future activity. I currently have space on my 1on1 personalized coaching program. To learn more click the button below.