Developing C-Suite Relationships

“It’s hard to get a first meeting with a senior executive—and even harder to get the second one and build an ongoing relationship.”

Why it’s Important

Relationships with senior executives are essential, even if those individuals don’t directly hire you. Top executives:

• Formulate and influence strategy
• Often have both revenue and cost oversight—meaning they can create budget for a good idea
• Can unblock a stalled sale
• Are receptive to reframing an expressed need and looking at the total problem and total solution
• Can rapidly get other key stakeholders aligned

The economic impact of a single top relationship can be huge.

Our Approach

We’ve worked with thousands of professionals to help them both build the right skills and implement tactical plans to develop and deepen key c-suite relationships. Our c-suite programs are based on having advised hundreds of top executives around the world and from the insights we’ve captured from completing well over a thousand interviews with clients about their most trusted advisors.

A typical workshop agenda will include modules on critical topics such as:

• Adopting the C-Suite Mindset
• Gaining Access
• Using Power Questions with Top Executives
• Holding a Great First Meeting
• Adding Value for Time
• Becoming a Person of Interest to the C-Suite
• Developing a Strategic Relationship Plan for a key, senior executive