1) Study the corporate culture of the organisation.
Does the organisation have a strong marketing culture? If the people in the marketing team are very driven and talk like marketing people, it shows the top management's emphasis on the marketing function of the organisation.
2) Strike alliance with the right people.
Do some research on the organisation chart. Identify the key leaders in the organisation. In any organisation, the CEO, COO, CFO, General manager are people which you should know and strike a close alliance with. Get into the good books of the HR director. He or she is the last person you want to offend.
3) Build rapport with your team
If you are entering your position with a team to lead, the immediate task is to build rapport with your team players. Identify the indian chief within the group and look at official and unofficial ways to get buy ins from them.
4) Talk to Predecessors
If you have the chance to talk to the previous marketing manager, do try to get as much information as possible. Suss out information on important information like advertising vendors, Media contact list, structure of company, marketing budget, etc. The challenge is to listen with an open mind. He or she might have something bad to say about the company. Listen and try to be objective about it. Everyone is different and react to situation differently. Don't get affected if there is alot of negativity but stay positive and tell yourself you can make a difference.
5) Marketing Plan
Try to identify whether a marketing plan is developed. This is quite fundamental as it is the blueprint and foundation for every marketing department. If it's been developed, look at it and assess the extend for which it can be executed. If it is a sound plan, start a strategy to ensure that execution is done and implemented well. You will still score points even though the idea don't originate from you.
6) Meet Advertising, PR or Design vendors
Start to meet up with previous marketing vendors. Talk to the sales & account person to understand the previous relationships; working relationships; marketing development process. You will get a good idea of how the proposal and concept gets approve in your organisation. Sometimes you'll get good hints about the CEO or COO management style , especially on influencing the marketing approval process.
7) Network, Network, Network
This is quite a fundamental. Network immediately with internal and external stakeholders. This is a pre-requisite for all aspiring marketer and you'll never stand to lose anything from it.
8) Dress Professionally
Sometimes we need to dress to look the part. Try to project a smart and professional image during meeting and when you meet fellow colleagues. Remember people like to discuss about their colleagues especially on the newly joined staff. So try to minimise any PR disaster like losing your anger during a meeting; being caught lunching secretly with someone of the opposite sex or being seen drenched in the middle of the pouring rain.
9) Know your stuff well
As a successful marketer, time will tell whether you really know your stuff. Apart from the 4ps, a marketer needs to study the strategic competitive environment of which the organisation is operating in. Think Big and be more macro about your approach. Look at various perspectives and devise the best marketing strategy to tackle the current organisation's challenge.
10) Think Positive
As in all profession, having the right attitude is everything. People are automatically drawn to leaders who exude certain charm and positive energy to people around them. So be the change agent rather than waiting for things to happen. Once you subscribe to this mode of thinking, i am very sure you will succeed in life.
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