How would your firm survive if your largest client experienced business issues of their own and could no longer pay their bills? If they moved, closed or changed top management and took their business elsewhere? Business development within professional services firms is becoming critical for continued growth as competition for professionals with the proven ability to satisfy clients and bring in new business continues to escalate. Without planning for business development, you leave your firm exposed to unnecessary risk, which can quickly ruin all that you’ve worked to build.

If you have answered “NO” to any of these questions, Corporate Ladders will help you to create or maximize your business development initiatives while still maintaining the successful operation of your firm. Corporate Ladders has developed a Four Step Business Development Solution targeted to the unique needs of professional services firms to meet their growing business development requirements.  Corporate Ladders proven solutions include:

Step One: Research and Situation Analysis
We thoroughly review and evaluate your existing business development processes and marketing support initiatives while considering both your firm’s organizational structure and the strategic plan for growth, keeping in mind the increased competition facing professional firms and the need for all to engage in business development activities. We will provide you with a detailed analysis of our findings, highlighting areas where your exposure is greatest and identifying areas for both improvement and opportunity.

Step Two: Program Development
We develop a program that builds a sales culture within the firm by providing professionals with the personal understanding of the skills and processes it takes to be more than a servicer of clients, as in most firms, but rather a relationship manager. All program components are anchored on building a foundation of trust with clients and establishing value-based client relationships. Program specifics are customized to meet the needs of your firm and will feature the elements necessary for introducing and building the business development skills of your staff.

Step Three: Program Implementation
Our industry professionals will work with you to develop the best methods for delivering program components. Whether it be a group or individual setting, on or off site, we customize our delivery methods and scheduling and take care of all the details to ensure that your participants can focus on the program to develop their behavior outside of previous “comfort zones” to maximize your firm’s business development efforts. We also build in benchmarks and measurements to assess progress towards desired outcomes.

Step Four: Business Development Coaching
What sets Corporate Ladders apart from other business development, consulting and training firms is our recognition that the best business plans, strategies, programs and methods need to be successfully executed and followed through to ensure success. We go beyond plans and recommendations – we stay with you and provide executive level business development coaching to guide you through the process to help meet your business development goals. Our approach helps you achieve success by providing ongoing guidance, support and evaluation. We work with you on specific areas, identified in Step One, to make sure your staff is confident and comfortable with what is needed to embrace the marketing and business development activities in a professional services firm and why this is a critical element for your firm’s success.