Bradford & Son’s Business Development Manager, Nicola Smith comments upon her role.
“Put simply, a Business Development Manager is someone who makes it their priority to assist their company with the acquisition of new clients and to sell additional products and/or services to existing ones. This makes a BDM role crucial to the ongoing success, ambition and expansion of a company, whilst embracing the need to diversify in an ever changing legal landscape.
Whether the BDM role is in television, media, law, or sales it is paramount that the BDM is supported so that they may drive forward a company’s business, increase its revenue and identify new and developing business opportunities. All of which serve to increase the visibility of the company and its brand.
A good BDM will possess some of the following skills:
Good communication skills.
Good interpersonal skills.
Good business knowledge.
Negotiation skills.
Tact and diplomacy.
Creativity.
A good grasp of knowledge and the ability to write documents in a professional style.
Organisational skills.
As a business development manager, it is therefore part sales representative, part marketing analyst, and part business analyst. Constantly checking the offering of services is the best it can be. It will help if you have:
Excellent communication skills.
The ability to get on with people at all levels and influence them.
Strong problem-solving and creative skills.
An ability to stay calm under pressure and keep to deadlines.
Strong negotiation techniques.
Team-working and leadership skills.
Attention to detail.
Business development plans provide guidance to organizations in purpose, including mission, vision and values, as well as product or service, target audience and the strategies they will use to achieve success. … The plan provides guidance for all members of the organization.
Personally, I find being a Business Development Manager a very rewarding job. Not only do I get to see first-hand the types of client that comes through the door, but I also get to see how that affects the business we run, how that matters to the community and how we effect change in peoples lives.”