Ever described your Practice as ‘progressive’ and felt like crossing your fingers? We see you. Here’s how to tell if your Practice is really thinking ahead.

​Every businessperson likes to think of themselves as progressive and, for the most part, they are – but that doesn’t mean the organisations they represent are, too. 

The term progressive is held to have two meanings: one pertaining to ongoing or gradual development, and the other, usually political, notion that advocates social reform. 

Let’s be clear: if we’re thinking of a ‘progressive’ organisation, most successful, self-sustaining businesses would tick the box for the gradual development sort of progressiveness, but fewer would claim to be socially progressive. 

Socially progressive business: It’s not about your political persuasions.
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Being a socially progressive organisation doesn’t mean subscribing to any widely held political belief or philosophy. Instead, it’s an active engagement with the evolution of business and workforce management, to maintain alignment with the standards and practices of the day. 

Or, as Deloitte put it in their ‘Deloitte Global Human Capital Trends 2021’ report: 

‘… putting people at the heart of an organization’s decisions about work and the workforce pays off in the ability to better stay ahead of disruption. Putting that ability into practice entails thinking about work and the workforce in terms of purpose, potential, and perspective to build an organization that can thrive in an unpredictable environment with an unknown future.’ https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/human-capital-trends.html 
 
The pandemic changed the world as we knew it and, today, it’s ongoing effects are impacting client behaviours and expectations, in turn compelling Practices to re-evaluate and reconfigure how they obtain, maintain and conduct business. 

For many Practices, change is the pathway to opportunity. But for a few, change is too hard, intimidating and costly. In some cases, it may be Partners not towing the line; holding their own agenda and not fully considering the full impacts that changes in legislation and technology are having on the Practice. 
 
But change happens whether we asked for it or not. 

The logistics of managing clients through lockdowns and social distancing orders, plus tightening margins in a struggling economy, means the digitisation of Practices is now more urgent than ever. 

Client expectations have increased while their needs have shifted, creating a stream of new work for Practices, with new rules, conditions, and eligibility requirements. Meanwhile, Practices are left with a lingering uncertainty as to how they might develop and retain clients into the future. 

And with consumer behaviour transforming how they search, evaluate, engage and interact with businesses, many Practices are being pushed to develop marketing plans for the first time, building a strong digital presence to remain competitive. 

Time to shift: Are you ready for the change? 

Just as truly progressive businesses strive to put their workers’ needs at the centre of their workforce management strategy, your clients need to be at the centre of your marketing and communications efforts. 
 
For many Practices, this means getting up to speed with content marketing, customer relationship management systems and much more. 
 
“I can not recommend Sharpe Marketing enough. Being new in owning a business, my first year was probably the best, of which Sharpe’s marketing skills contributed hugely to. Meg has a vast range of knowledge and skill when it comes to professional services marketing. You can throw an idea at her and she comes back with something great.

The last couple of years, dealing with Meg and her team have been amazing. Apart from her vast marketing skills, she is a person who understands all business types and will get to know you as a person and what you need.

No doubt, Sharpe Marketing can bring something fresh and amazing to your Practice. With Meg and her team around, you can guarantee that you will have someone to rely on in regarding to building your Practice within your region.” 

Sharpe Marketing prides itself on partnering with Practices by not towing the line but helping them cross the line to a progress of innovation and growth. We do this through our decades of hands-on experience working in Practice. We have been trained by some of the best in the business and our strategic thinking and achievable activity action plans have proven results just a few months into our clients working with us. 

Do you want to know more about becoming a truly progressive Practice? Do you need a second opinion on your current marketing and communication strategy? Do you want to move forward and not be left behind? 
 
Work with us and you will see your Practice grow from good to great. 

Contact us via info@sharpemarketing.co.nz or by calling us on 021 819 691