Thanks for everyone’s fabulous feedback on the blog!  Based on  your questions and requests – especially from those of you who are not familiar with my work through personal experience – it has become clear that it’s important for me to take the time to write some pieces describing exactly what CQ™ is and what it isn’t.  

Some of you have been asking for things like “scripts” and presentation outlines to be posted on the blog.  If the CQ™ Approach were just another sales methodology that would, of course, make complete sense.  However, the CQ Approach is not just another way to sell somebody something.  The CQ Approach is an individualized approach to business development that emerges from a deep understanding and discovery of one’s Core Callings™ and inhibitors, a commitment to communicate from a place of contribution, and a willingness and desire to make your unique contribution using a new paradigm that does not include salesy business development techniques.    

So, in future posts, I will start at the beginning and share the foundational principals of CQ, what CQ is and what it isn’t, and how you can go about learning a new, Contribution-Focused ™ way to build your groups.

Enjoy!

Suzanne

Point to Ponder… 

Do you really think they’ll notice?

“Selling” is as obvious as showing up without your pants!

Stop Selling. Start Contributing!

Recently some of my clients have asked how they can tell if they are in selling-mode or are truly being Contribution-Centered™ while interacting with a member candidate (notice I didn’t call them “prospects” ).   I think that’s a great question!  Especially since we are all conditioned to be in sales mode automatically – more on that in future posts.  So, here are a few questions that can help you begin to tell the difference:

Ask yourself…

CQ™ Approach To Group Build

Mindset Checks™

Those are just a few of the questions you can ask yourself.  For a complete list of the CQ Mindset Check List™ email a request to info@ChairCoach.com.  For now, you can ask yourself how you would answer those questions. 

All of this comes down to a mindset shift that you can move into if you want to.  If you choose to shift your mindset, like many before you, you’ll find it’s a much easier, more enjoyable, more authentic way to successfully build your groups! 

© 2008 Suzanne Livingston, All rights reserved.

I would be delighted to have you use and share materials, resources, and information from the Build My Group Blog. When sharing any of the information found here, in whole or in part, here’s what you MUST include:

Suzanne Livingston, Founder of CQ Institute, Inc., is the developer of the CQ™ Approach, the proven, Contribution-Centered™ way to successfully fill your groups.  Visit www.BuildMyGroup.com for additional information.  “It’s time to stop selling and start contributing!” 

Have a fabulous week all!

Suzanne

Check out the ’Calendar’ page for upcoming workshops and events or the ‘Coaching’ page for one-to-one and group CQ Coaching™ programs.

Why I Started This Blog

After sharing the launch of The Build My Group Blog with some of you, I realized it would probably be helpful to post a little about why I started this forum and what I would like it to ultimately contribute to this community.

First, as many of you already know, I’m absolutely passionate about helping to change the way we do business with each other. Most of my focus these days is around teaching and coaching professionals to use the CQ Approach to Business Development™ (some folks that don’t know me very well may refer to this as the CQ Approach to Selling. Yikes…that word makes me cringe! J).

As you may already know, the CQ Approach™ is an individualized, ethical, contribution-centered, and enjoyable alternative to the traditional salesy approach many of us have been taught. With this approach, you can successfully fill your groups, show-up like a “Chair” instead of a salesperson, and be free of salesy or manipulative tactics. Oh yes…and it works! The CQ™ Approach is based on over 20 years of hands-on, in-field development and numerous success stories. (If you’d like to read more about the specifics you can go to www.ChairCoach.com or visit the CQ Approach™ page on this site.)

Anyway, many of my one-to-one clients have been Vistage/TEC Chairs from all over the United States and Canada. Many of you have requested that I find a way to connect all of us so that you can share your CQ Approach™ successes, your questions, and your experiences. So…here we go! The Build My Group Blog is that place!

My Hope for How You Will Participate In This Community

My ultimate vision for this blog is to serve as a community resource that supports and connects contribution-centered professionals who are focused on successfully building their peer groups through non-salesy, contribution-focused ways. That can only happen if you jump in and participate. So I encourage you to:

Share your successes

Share you learnings

Ask questions

Reach out to each other

And…let me know what you would like me to post here!

Do you need help with the mindset shift from sales to contribution? Do you need a refresher on delivering the “Scenarios”? Would it be helpful to read about real life situations? This is your community. Let’s make it a great place to connect, learn, and share!

My Commitment to You

I commit to supporting this community and helping to create a comprehensive resource that can be used by existing Chairs and peer-to-peer professionals. If you will let me know what you would like to see posted here I will post and add to this resource regularly. All you have to do is ask questions, make comments, and connect. So…let’s jump in and make this happen! Who’s first?

-Suzanne

You’ll find that you will be among peers in the discussions on this blog and through my work in CQ (Contribution Quotient – much more about that soon), you’ll learn how to build your group without the pain and drudgery of “selling.”  You’ll be a front row participant in ground-breaking developments around “contribution” as a way of group-building and as a way of approaching your work and your life.

It’s exciting work and I’ve been at it for 20 years and have seen the difference contribution makes in people’s lives.

So, welcome to our first post.  It will be followed by many more and, of course, your comments will generate lots of discussion.

Suzanne Livingston

Stop Selling.  Start Contributing.