Be visible and a strategic partner
- Attend organizational meetings as a guest
- Welcome 1:1 meetings and departmental brainstorming sessions
- Take the time to listen to other ideas
- Everyone’s an expert at the Web… didn’t you get the memo?
- Offer solutions that pertain to the group you are meeting with
- Be a part of their plan, not just the action
Share the vision, own the responsibility
- Be passionate about what you do and who you are working with
- Put ideas out there that extol the benefits (keep the features for those who are really interested)
- Empower your team and resources with your collaboration-- not just delegation
- Let people know what you have delivered and how they are now benefiting
- Remember to thank them for their time, interest and input
Make time to be with owners
- In person if possible
- Value their time
- Be flexible with yours
- Try and meet when the phone's not ringing
- No more than the time agreed to
- Hold a forum to listen and learn
- And remember to thank them
Learn from the leaders
- Bring in experts to help analyze your site from an unbiased perspective
- Take the time to establish metrics and goals in partnership with your organizational leaders
- Share your outcomes and ask for feedback
- Harness industry and association data
Just be the Web expert
- Let the numbers tell the story
- Let the experts speak for you
- Speak with knowledge from the field by showing how the Web can solve problems
- Research and share how others have benefited
- Don’t assume you know their expertise, too
Foster a collaborative environment
- Make asking for ideas and ongoing support a routine
- Bring a small "to-do" list for stakeholders and departmental managers
- Bring your team to client meetings
- Hold off-site team-building activities
- Have fun… Yes, this is a requirement
Consistent message without over-promising
- Speak in organizational terms
i.e. "Our new Web site will help us grow outpatient volumes." versus…
"The new site will gain more hits and higher SEO ranking results." - Put the customers ahead of the technology
- Put the timeframes based on milestones, not just due dates
- Ask for continued support when speaking
