During the recession many of us have been rethinking and prioritizing our goals. Mostly this is due to shortage of staff, reduced budget and lack of sponsorship. Cutting back is just a simple fact, but how do you propose a roadmap and a plan that can be delivered on? The best approach is to work with what you have and what is within your sphere of influence. So step back a moment and look across the teams and talent that is on hand.
Partnering with another team and proposing new content or new media can boost that teams visibility and value. It also provides material that your team can repackage and deliver as new programs and offers some marketing opportunities. Repurposing content is also another route, so taking inventory of what can be repurposed outright is a worthwhile task. This is a time to be creative and other groups will respond to creative solutions, since they are also experiencing the same setbacks. This is not the time to “hole up”, and your instincts may suggest retreating into a cave – the opposite is true. Take talented folks and department heads out for coffee or lunch and brainstorm. Promote your agenda and find ways for people to participate or offer better ideas and solutions to your predicament. Avoid whining, it is a time to scan and identify your allies and mentors. Be a problem solver and creative thinker, and watch others come to your aid.
Lastly, there is something to avoid. Working more and harder will not improve the situation. Working smarter will. So take a strategic view on your tactical plans. Tactically focused roadmap and execution plans on their own are not enough unless you can dovetail your plan into a bigger picture. Look for alignment as you team up with other departments and other projects. Can your work on new media or new content types help you learn what users want? Will it change your search engine plans? Can a survey or poll in combination with tactical deliverables provide insights on other planned features? Tactical achievements may help your strategic plans and improve their chances for success by defining requirements and building broad support from your tactical teamwork.
