When dealing with any sort of project, the number of tasks can seem overwhelming.

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Especially if you’re in charge.

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There’s always so much to do and everything seems so essential to succeed.

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So where do you start?

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Prioritizing might seem impossible at times, which is why we’re here to give you 5 steps to tidy up your strategy and be ready to sail.

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Keep reading for useful, actionable tips you can implement, no matter what your project is!

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1. Listening, listening, listening

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Before doing anything, you need to pay attention to everything.

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In order to do what’s truly important and beneficial for your project, you need to be as certain as possible about your environment and its requirements and needs.

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ACTIONABLE TIPS:

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• Conduct regular feedback sessions to gather insights and understand people’s needs, preferences, and pain points.

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• Implement tools like surveys, focus groups, and social media monitoring to capture real-time sentiment.

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• Prioritize feedback by categorizing it based on urgency and impact, focusing on the areas that align with your strategic objectives.

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• Establish a process for analyzing and sharing customer insights across teams to make sure all decisions are well-informed.

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2. Crafting a vision

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After careful consideration of what your target audience needs and what your project can add to people’s lives, the next step is to finalize your vision for it.

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You probably already had a pretty sturdy base (after all, the best projects are those we’re passionate about).

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But your research should help you refine details and define your plans.

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ACTIONABLE TIPS:

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• Set a clear and compelling vision statement that articulates the long-term aspirations and goals of your marketing initiatives.

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• Communicate the vision effectively across the organization. Ensure alignment at all levels.

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• Set achievable milestones and strategic objectives that guide day-to-day decision-making.

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• Actively encourage team members to be innovative and creative to support the vision.

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3. Designing the dream-team

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With your objectives defined and your vision established, now comes preparing for the execution. And you can’t do it on your own.

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You probably have a few team members on board or in mind, but the new information and refined vision should help you realize which bases are covered and which aren’t.

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ACTIONABLE TIPS:

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• Identify key areas of expertise required to achieve your objectives. Consider market trends, consumer behavior, and competitive landscape.

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• Assess your team’s skills to identify gaps and opportunities for talent acquisition or development.

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• Foster collaboration by assembling teams with complementary skill sets and perspectives.

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• Invest in training, mentorship, and professional development initiatives.

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4. Anchoring efforts to your values

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You put in all the work to create a set of principles that aligns with what people want and need. You assembled a team ready to make your vision come alive.

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Now, with all that preparation, make sure the stories you tell are executed in a way that best represents what you stand for.

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Strive for high-quality outcomes that you believe in.

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ACTIONABLE TIPS:

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• Ensure that every product, campaign, or communication reflects and reinforces your values authentically.

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• Align storytelling with themes that resonate with your target audience's aspirations, challenges, and values.

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• Regularly revisit and refine your brand narrative to stay relevant and responsive.

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• Empower employees to embody the brand's ethos for visible consistency.

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5. Measuring and learning

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Arguably the most important step when thinking long-term is keeping track of your performance.

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Seeing what sticks, what doesn’t, what needs more time and learning from it is the key to getting you far. It shows you listen and adapt.

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ACTIONABLE TIPS:

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• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) according to your objectives to track progress and measure success.

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• Implement robust analytics tools and processes to collect, analyze, and interpret data related to engagement.

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• Encourage experimentation, iteration, and learning from both successes and missteps to fail forward.

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• Regularly review and reflect on performance metrics to identify trends, insights, and areas for optimization.

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Testing the formula

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Even though each project is unique and demands personalized attention, these five steps are fundamental to prepare for the complex world of business.

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Listen to your target audience.

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Build a set of values that speaks to you and your goals.

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Assemble your team with the best fits for your needs.

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Make choices that further your vision.

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Experiment and analyze the data.

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If you’d like to hear from a leader who uses these steps, check out this week’s episode of TOP CMO with Lenovo’s CMO!

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Ever thought about creating your own thought leadership content? At TOP Thought Leader, we amplify new and established voices so they can become pioneers of their generation. Get in touch with us and embark on your journey!