The Smart Market Researcher

7 standards for excellence in market research

2009-04-20T19:38:00.005+10:00

Excellence in the field of market research can be assured through the following seven standards:

1. Quality: Quality is often considered to be a mindset rather than simply a combination of systems and procedures. It should be integrated into every component of your business and corporate culture. Quality can be ensured through appropriate research design, research process, research execution, and product development processes.

2. Responsiveness: Your responsiveness depends on the speed of your market research processes. You should be able to design, analyze, execute and report the data to your clients with speed that is second to none – while ensuring that the quality standards are not compromised! The more responsive you are to the needs of your clients, the more time you will be able to save, which can in turn be used for addressing any challenges that you might face in the research process. Often responsiveness comes with you being responsible and accountable to your desired outcomes.

3. Flexibility: By being flexible, you will be able to ensure the lowest incident levels, design solutions that are a great enhancement compared to the current methods, adapt to the changing needs of the clients even during the project implementation phase, and deliver customized research solutions in the fast changing environment.

4. Critical thinking expertise: Problems that come up during market research are not homogeneous – you should be able to leverage on your research, process and business expertise and deliver the best research solution possible, through suitable problem solving and decision making processes that are complemented through a strong critical thinking expertise.

5. Innovation: You should always be on the look out for newer and better ways of addressing your clients’ research needs. Today businesses operate in a rapidly changing environment and that requires you to be innovative enough to come out with the latest and built-to-fit research solutions that are the best.

6. Dedication: A dedicated team which is willing and able to understand the clients’ needs so as to understand all the variables in the business context and accordingly deliver great results is essential for excellence in market research. Hand in hand with dedication is focus, commitment and perseverance in making things happen in their environment.

7. Process: Your market research process should focus on your clients’ business objectives and requirements and be adequate enough so as to address any contingencies that may arise due to changing business requirements.

If you look at these seven factors that are essential for excellence in market research, the fact becomes very evident – your people are the most critical component in the market research.

If you’ve stopped by, and listened and learned a little something, then my post has been successful. I invite you to visit my website www.gameplancoaching.com to make your day.

Here's what others have to say about how we've helped them through coaching.

Best wishes,
Karyne Ang

GAMEPLAN Moves for Your Executive Success

2009-03-10T10:33:00.001+11:00

"Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal."

Earl Nightingale

Phase I - The Gap Analysis

What have you missed out on last year/quarter?
What do you really want, and where do you want to be, this time next year?

Define your personal, and your company's:

- Purpose
- Mission
- Values
- Vision
- Goals

Where are you now and ideally, where do you want to be? Have a good look at the gap.

Get a grasp of the outcomes you want, how it looks to you, how it feels, what you are doing in that moment (of where you want to be), and who is with you at that time.

Your assets and liabilities
What areas created a win for you – you can repeat these success strategies
Where did you fail and what did you learn from it – you can amend these strategies.

You can work these through with a personal strategist in a G.R.E.A.T. Diagnostics session (for all new clients, your first session is complimentary as we show you the tools to help you assess your situation.)

Phase II - The Game Plan

Work with your leader or a coach to co-create a plan of action that will carry you to the outcomes and goals you desire.

- What can you do differently
- What new resources or skills do you need
- What can you create to make this happen
- How to use your existing resources differently
- Who do you need to be to make this work
- Who will you tell about this new commitment
- When you will implement them
- What your expectations are
- What the milestones are
- What is your review process
- How will you know when you have achieved your goal - what is the evidence procedure?

Phase III - The Excellence Game

Regular coaching sessions provide challenge, support, rigour and compassion while you implement your strategy.

Change can happen in an instance, and you can already begin leading and performing in new, more effective ways starting right now.

- Assess successes and feedback
- Review what's working and what isn't
- Expand possibilities and opportunities
- Learn and make course corrections
- Plan for change and decisions and commit to the decision.

Phase IV - The Champion

Track, review and celebrate your progress all the way to the goal. Know that you can achieve excellence and success easily and effortlessly when you commit to your success!

Has this blog site made a difference to you?

If you’ve stopped by, and listened and learned a little something, then my post has been successful. I invite you to visit my website www.gameplancoaching.com to make your day.

Here's what others have to say about how we've helped them through coaching.

Best wishes,

Karyne

Tools to help you grow DAILY

2009-03-02T16:53:00.008+11:00

To grow on a daily basis, here are 4 aspects of growth you can apply immediately and consistently to ensure you are growing towards excellence.

Learn - ask yourself "What have I learnt today? What can I do differently to make it better tomorrow?"

Teach - Teach others what you have learnt. Bring others along on your upward climb. That is the sure trait of a great leader.

Step up / Stretch - what have you done today that you haven't done before? What can you do today, that scares you but you'd do it anyway?

Apply yourself - what do you know in your mind that you can translate into action and behaviour? Ask "How can I apply what I have learnt in my workplace / life?" "What needs to change here in order to improve what I am doing?"

If you cannot see yourself applying any of the areas stated above, it's time for you to identify what is holding you back from being the best you can be. What are the realities in your life? What is that costing you? Do you need more clarity around where you are right now and where you want to be?

Get some help today if you are in this situation. Talk to your leaders, colleagues, friends, mentors or a coach who will give you honest guidance and feedback, while conspiring for your success.

If you’ve stopped by, and listened and learned a little something, then my post has been successful. I invite you to visit my website www.gameplancoaching.com to make your day.

Here's what others have to say about how they've benefitted from us through coaching.

Best wishes,
Karyne Ang

The smart think laterally

2009-02-27T17:02:00.008+11:00

Entrepreneur (The Australian, Feb 27, 2009)

While 2009 is not the year to lose your head in self belief, it is still not the time to put your dream on hold. The smart business operators actually ramp up their marketing efforts while becoming totally focussed on trimming wasteful costs that got out of hand during the boom. This is the time to create a marketing plan around effective yet cheap forms of business promotion.

- Do the obvious little things well (instantly tell customers why they should buy from you?).
- Be outstandingly remarkable.
- Evaluate your business technology, get on the fast lane and get efficient.

The smart think laterally and what seems like a cost outlay but they could be an investment in future profits and success. What are you investing in today?

Everyone feels the pressure. It's how you choose to respond that matters. It's time to rethink your priorities and direction, hold on to your vision, then acting decisively.

Dear reader, if you’ve stopped by, and listened and learned a little something, then my post has been successful. I invite you to visit my website www.gameplancoaching.com to make your day.

Here's what others have to say about how we've helped them through coaching.

Best wishes,
Karyne Ang

Taking care of self

2009-02-25T10:08:00.005+11:00

In case of an air plane emergency, place the oxygen masks on yourselves first before attending to the others.
What can we learn from that?

Taking care of self is not about being selfish. It is not about being self centred and thinking that the world revolves around serving you. Far from it. There is a higher purpose to this.

What does taking care of self mean to you? I'd like to challenge all high achievers out there.

Place 'Taking Care of Yourself' as a key KRA or KPI in your scheme of plans and goals to achieve. I can almost guarantee you will achieve even more when this is in place. You will be happier for it, more fulfilled, more purpose driven, more energetic.

It’s worth it. remember to take the occasional break - be it a 5 minute exercise to have a breather or a 5 week holiday.

Take a moment, focus on your purpose, your passions, get down to rediscovering yourself, touching base with self. Having that moment, rejuvenating, reeling in all that awe, gratitude, satisfaction and some recreation on the side can do wonders.

Forget the excuses (I have no time, the team can't do without me, what if my clients need me, what if the project has a hiccup) and the guilt that goes with it. Take responsibility for your work and your life, your sanity, yourself. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to look after yourself as best you can.

If you strongly believe you have trouble letting go and taking charge of your own life to regain the balance in your life, perhaps it's time to discuss this with a coach to help you work out a realistic plan that will help you live the way you want to, instead of the way you feel you have to.

Remember the moment, so the next time you feel that twinge of guilt for taking a break, think of these moments! You have it in you to be compassionate and yet strong enough to take care of yourself because this way, you are better positioned to take care of others in the process.

If you’ve stopped by, and listened and learned a little something, then my post has been successful. I invite you to visit my website www.gameplancoaching.com to make your day.

Here's what others have to say about how we've helped them through coaching.

Best wishes,

Karyne

What makes us successful?

2009-02-20T17:57:00.010+11:00

Social Networking on Facebook is a great way to maintain and expand your connections, stimulate thinking and share ideas. What groups are you in?

Facebook Group: Colmar Brunton - Past and Present

In response to John Shanahan's question "What are the things that have made us successful (what are they things we should never forget"

A dozen and a half answers of mine .....

Choosing our attitudes
Being accountable for our outcomes
Showing up even when we do not feel like it at times
Being true to ourselves
Our learnings - Mistakes are gold in disguise. Learn from the past, live in the present, have a clear vision for the future.
Feedback - there is no failure, only feedback
Focussing on being part of the solution/opportunity rather than the problem
Challenges that stretch us to think and act differently for positive outcomes
Having constant and never-ending improvement (CANI)
Being innovative and resourceful
Believing in yourself and others around you
Taking action - making it happen.

12 1/2. Knowing what success means for you and living it ....

More social networking sites at:
http://www.plaxo.com/
http://www.facebook.com/
http://www.linkedin.com/

Cheers,
Karyne
www.gameplancoaching.com

Step Up to Excellence and Boost your Performance

2009-02-20T11:01:00.001+11:00

Are you ready to step up? To take your work and play to the next level? Be the leader in your field and boost your performance. I am in the business of ensuring you get the positive results you want for your career, your organisation, your teams, your well-being.

To be differentiated and to hold yourself to the highest standards of excellence in your performance is about doing everything with quality, which is a product of time, mindset, and systems.

To assure quality in everything you do, there are several ways you can stretch yourself, boost your performance, increase your chances for success, enhance your reputation and credibility, and save time in the long term.

When you commit and apply these tips consistently, I truly believe that you will start to see some even more amazing results in your life and career. So let’s get started!

Plan
If we do not have a destination, then any road will do.....

If we do not have a plan and a direction, then how will we know when we get there? Once you have your ideas sorted, and your vision clearly defined, build up the key critical success factors, determine your goals and develop game plan strategies and action plans to help you achieve those goals.

Decide what you want in your plan and commit to it.

Execute
It is important that we do not delve at the planning stages, but learn to let go and take action.

Many people freeze and keep polishing their plans till paralysis point. It is a process of continuous learning. If you believe something is stopping you from taking the next step, talk to a mentor or coach who can help you get moving.

Take action and get results!

Assess
Are you on track? Are you working towards your goals with aligned values?
Is your focus still towards the big picture? Where are you at in the bigger scheme of things?
Measure your outcomes, what went well, what didn’t, what does that mean for you and your business?

Where are the gaps, opportunities and threats?

Review
Now that you have assessed your situation, revisit your values and drivers, review and revise your personal and/or business plans where necessary.

Create action plans that will steer you back on track.

Learn
There is no failure but only feedback. Learn to use your mistakes as gems for growth.
Celebrate your successes.
Acknowledge what you have done well.

Identify strategies that have worked, modify strategies that are not serving you well.

In my latest e-book "Better, Best and Beyond: How to do ANYTHING better" I present 25 solid tips you can apply immediately for leadership and performance excellence. Contact us to find out how you can get a copy of this book.

Best wishes,
Karyne Ang Personal Strategist and Performance Coach, with a passion for the market research industry
www.gameplancoaching.com

12 Transformational Success Words for Market Research Excellence

2009-02-18T15:14:00.001+11:00

Words that can impact your performance and leadership excellence

The words we choose to use in our internal and external dialogues have a far-reaching impact to us and those around us. They can make your day or otherwise.

In market research, we appreciate the impact our reports and presentations have on our clients and their markets - not for the pretty pictures, diagrams and charts, but for the meaning, insights and implications behind those stories that lead to great marketing strategies, delighted customers and very happy clients.

How much do we focus on the way we use language with our colleagues and team members?
Have we evaluated what we say to ourselves?
Have we considered what driving impact those thoughts and words have on the way we feel and act?

Do they make your day? What are some of the words you have in your mind that drives you forwards? What are the words you use in your language of communication with others around you?

If you realise that you have been focussing on language that is wearing you down, it's time to shift the focus to something more empowering today.

Need some help? Talk to us at GAMEPLAN Coaching Services.

Here are just 12 words that can create really positive outcomes in your perfomance and leadership competencies if you choose to use them with volition and purpose.

Vision
Goal
Focus
Belief
Action
Commitment
Passion
Persistence
Confidence
Intuition
Attitude
Opportunity

What is your growth game plan for 2009?

2009-02-14T14:26:00.008+11:00

What is your growth game plan for 2009
6 areas to consider in order to grow your organisation’s human assets

Don’t just survive in 2009, thrive! Whether you are an executive looking to climb the ranks of the research ladder or a leader looking to drive your team and agency greater heights, make 2009 the best year ever! Here are 6 tips to push you along:

1) Invest wisely in you and your staff- Given that times ahead could look tough, brace yourselves, invest wisely in your time and money. The best research tools and technologies are wasted if you do not have great staff and great leadership.

2) Rethink how you develop yourself and your staff – people are a service industry’s greatest assets, so how are you developing your staff? Challenging times call for innovative solutions to grow your greatest assets.

Innovating on how your agency goes about engaging learning and development programs for your people, and making a long term investment in your people can pay dividends.

3) Combine training with coaching for greater learning effectiveness - Learning by training combined with coaching and post training follow up has been proven to be more effective. It ensures that learning conducted in the boardroom or training facility is retained for longer and contributes directly to your ROI through direct application to the workplace.

4) Keep asking key driving questions – the quality of our lives are often driven by the quality of the questions we ask ourselves. What questions do you ask yourself? Do they spur you to action or keep you thinking of past regrets and future anxieties?

5) Induction programs can save you costs – recruit the right people, and accelerate their performance abilities in your organisation. Work out solid induction programs for your new members so they can become productive faster. This saves you time, produces a more effective employee in an accelerated manner, and creates a great morale for all involved in the process.

6) Seek help when you need it – Focus on your strengths and core competencies. Should you need to get some external assistance in people management, training, mentoring and coaching, get some trusted advice and support.

GAMEPLAN Coaching Services specialises in leadership and performance training and coaching programs for all levels of your organisation. I conduct individual and group coaching and workshop sessions in Sydney. Occasionally we offer complimentary leadership coaching workshops at your Sydney premises to complement your organisation's existing staff development plans.

Contact me today to discuss your needs. I would love to hear what you've been doing in your organisation so far, and what challenges you face at the moment. Working jointly with you, we will come up with a development plan of action to achieve the results you want.

5 Key reasons to engage a specialised market research trainer and coach

2009-02-14T00:00:00.001+11:00

5 Key reasons to engage a specialised market research trainer and coach

GAMEPLAN Coaching Services is a specialist in market research coaching, training, mentoring and induction programs. What this means is that we work with market research agencies to provide performance and leadership solutions so your teams can contribute to your bottom-line more effectively. There are no complex processes, just simple coaching and mentoring so you can focus on what you do best - managing your business and your clients to research and marketing consultancy excellence.

The market research coach is trained and experienced in many aspects of market research, HR, client management, life and executive coaching, training and mentoring. They are able to assess your training and coaching needs, recommend a suitable executive and/or personal development program, and then with your input design and implement the initiative within your organisation.
As an executive and business leader, you've thought about the situation from every angle, talked about it with everyone, may be feeling stuck and still haven't created the change you were wanting… The mind that creates the problem can't create the solution, yet so many of us stay stuck with a problem because we can't, won't or don't know how to change how we approach it. To change our results, we must be willing to change our thinking, and this can be accelerated through coaching and training.
Your organisation is committed to constant improvements, performance growth and developing a high-functioning team. You understand that twice-yearly performance reviews are no longer adequate to meet the needs of Gen Y and ambitious team members who want to know how to improve so they can accelerate their successes. A coach can offer a framework for allowing ongoing feedback for your team so they can achieve improved results on a consistent and sustainable basis. Your teams could be doing much better.
You are keen to take your own leadership and management abilities to the next level and would value a confidant and sounding board as you go about doing some things differently, and learning new skills. Coaching allows you the space to reflect on where you want to take your company and career, assists you design an action plan for moving forward and provides regular unbiased feedback on how you're doing and how you could improve.
Working jointly with us at Gameplan Coaching Services, you will be able to free up some of your internal resources to ensure they spend more focus on the client and the business rather than developing training programs.

I invite you to check out the Gameplan Coaching Services website for more market research coaching and training information.

Best regards,
Karyne Ang
Personal Strategist and Performance Coach, with a solid passion in the market research industry