Advisors Advising
Since early 2003, BzzAgent has had an Advisory Board.
In the early days, before we had an official Corporate Board, we met a few times and we worked with a number of individuals to help us with specific projects such as patenting our WOM process and the best approach to certain partnerships. But as the company accelerated, and we’ve added board members, executives and staff, it’s been immensely difficult to utilize this group of experts. Individually, each would gladly help if we reached out, but as a whole this cluster is relatively distant.
We continue to keep our Advisory Board informed [along with our early investment partners], mainly through the distribution of a confidential BzzAgent presentation prepared for each quarterly board meeting. The hope is they read it and offer suggestions regarding business strategy, make introductions and otherwise help us grow.
After the August Board Meeting, we sent the deck with one strategically placed - and totally false - slide in the middle:
We figured it would be a good way to see who was actually reading. The response? Only 3 out of 15 individuals responded [two of them didn't offer advice, but rather appreciation for the joke]. A number possibly read and didn’t find it humorous or didn’t care enough to reach out, but it’s doubtful.
While we haven’t been proactive about connecting with many of the Advisory Board members, it begs the question about what we do from here. We’ve been complacently sending along this data for historical purposes and the hope that people remain somewhat connected to the business, but maybe this is a sign we should quietly disband the group and go on our merry way?
August 22nd, 2007 at 9:13 am
Or you could go in the opposite direction and find new Advisory Board members to take the place of the members who are no longer interested in serving, don’t have the time to commit, or feel they can no longer contribute useful ideas.
Adding new people will have the extra benefit of introducing a fresh outlook to your organization and, hopefully, bring fresh ideas to the table as well.
As for your faux slide in the stack, I did a double-take while I was reading it. It was a chuckle, but I can see where some starched-shirt business types might not think it a hoot. On the other hand, why would you want humorless people on your Advisory Board? It wouldn’t seem to fit in with your corporate culture at all.
In the same vein, have you considered having a few of your “senior” BzzAgents on some type of Agent Advisory Board to make suggestions on Agent relations and communication? Since Agents are the backbone to WOM, it might help with long term planning on what keeps Agents happy little bees and what might be rubbing them the wrong way.
August 22nd, 2007 at 9:38 am
Yes, I agree – You should add BzzAgents to the Advisory Board. That’s what and Ad Board is for!
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:31 pm
I create a lot of reports in my job and it is frustrating when nobody takes the time to read more than the summary. If they aren’t doing you any good, I’d disband, or make it a semi-annual event since I wouldn’t think that something THAT exciting would happen every 3 months. If it is less often, then it will seem like a bigger deal and they might see more value in reading the reports. Also remember white space/charts/bullets/visuals are your friends.
Oh, and I as well volunteer to be on an Agent advisory board…we can call it the Agentory Board and meet online.
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:31 pm
It’s my turn to say that nyssa11 took the words out of my mouth. hehe Information can get cumbersome, but you’re providing it for a reason. If your board isn’t interested in reading what you provide, then drop the least productive people or simply ask them to resign if they aren’t interested in participating fully. There are plenty of people (self included) who would jump at such an opportunity. I, too, think you need a board of Agent representatives but not just seniors. It should be comprised of people of various degrees of participation so you can figure out what makes people tick at different levels.
In my opinion, the blogs are a great representation of getting people’s input (or lack thereof). Of all the posts on a variety of subjects, only a handful of responses are given, typically by the same handful of people. Seems to be a problem across different aspects of BzzAgent’s communications programs.
August 23rd, 2007 at 10:30 am
That is what keeps a business going is changes. If one isn’t involved to the extent they add productive ideas and or take an interest in what is happening around them, then a change is in order as mentioned. Lack of, or no interest in, is not going to advance productive and lucrative business ventures. A business run on WOM promoting needs vocal members whether in office or agents spreading the word. Silence in this case is deadly. Even though I am still a level one agent and my reports are sparse at times, because I forget to report, I constantly share information on products and or services that BzzAgent is promoting for companies.
August 23rd, 2007 at 11:22 am
disband the current advisory board, start a new one and utilize top agents within it. I say get rid of dead weight. Change, can be a great springboard for fantstic new concepts!
August 23rd, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Corporate culture?
August 26th, 2007 at 9:47 am
I was about to ask what the heck is going on and what are they talking about?!
Luv Ya,
Barbie
January 9th, 2008 at 12:04 am
I’d be glad to be on an Advisory Board but I didn’t see anything about it.
Barbie
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