Small Spark Theory: a marginal gains approach to new business and marketing

Lucy Mann
Small Spark Theory: a marginal gains approach to new business and marketing

New business is one of those subjects guaranteed to get a reaction from agency owners everywhere. Many will have a nagging feeling they should be doing a bit more, wonder how other agencies manage to land the accounts they covet, have moments of wild inspiration and energy then falter because the day job just, well gets in the way. Gunpowder’s Lucy Mann has worked in agency new business for over 25 years and has witnessed these scenarios, and many more like them, as an outsourced new business telemarketer, a new business recruitment consultant, in house new business developer, in house head of marketing, and new business mentor across multiple disciplines and agency shapes and sizes. Regardless of size and discipline, many agencies encounter the same new business challenges, and more and more, the solution is not necessarily an ambitious marketing plan, or expensive sales resource, but instead a forensic application of process and a marginal gains approach to performance improvement. Gunpowder’s podcast, Small Spark Theory™ explores the small changes we can make to our sales and marketing process to achieve better new business results. With contributions from a range of experts, each episode will examine a single element of the process in detail, providing manageable tips for improvement. Find our more about Gunpowder Consulting, please visit gunpowderconsulting.com Follow us on Twitter @gunpowdertweets and join the conversation at #smallsparktheory With thanks to Matthew Syed for audio extract permission. Host - Lucy Mann Producer - Isabelle Jarvis

  1. APR 27

    EP98: A client perspective | John Gleason | A Better View

    Against a backdrop of news disproportionately full of business headlines, this month felt like the perfect opportunity to bring a client perspective to this podcast.  And who better to guide us through todays challenging landscape than John Gleason.  Having worked at Proctor and Gamble for 20 years before setting up his strategic consultancy, A Better View, John advises both clients and agencies on how to deliver better, more relevant, more valued (and valuable) solutions. In this episode we explore the current state of design as a discipline and John shares insights from The Future of... - the conference he co-organised and co-hosted last month, bringing together design leaders to discuss whether design is declining, facing diminishing influence, or just struggling to communicate its business value.  We take a candid look at the pressures design professionals are experiencing, with John offering data-driven observations about design's role in modern organisations and practical advice for agencies and design teams to remain relevant and impactful. John's recommended read is Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up by Jerry Colonna - listen in to find out how to win a copy.  Also mentioned in this episode: Design Business Association Experts Further reading:  The Business of Design by Roger Martin Change by Design by Tim Brown (former IDEO CEO) Reimagining Design, Unlocking Strategic Innovation by Kevin Bethune Non-Linear: Navigating Design with Curiosity and Conviction by Kevin Bethune Further listening:  Strategic Counsel Creative Series Episode 1:  How Agencies Need to Evolve to Remain Relevant  20% The Marketing Procurement Podcast: 8 Things Every Agency Says Want to know more about client listening? Get in touch.

    50 min
  2. 12/09/2024

    EP94: Empowering your people to drive growth | Zoe Tuffs | Times Ten

    As we wrap up 2024 with this final episode, I’ve been reflecting on the many conversations I’ve had with agencies throughout the year, as well as the recurring themes shared by our amazing podcast guests. It’s been a challenging year for many, which makes this the perfect moment to focus on an invaluable asset every agency has, no matter its size, discipline, or sector: our people. So in this episode, we’re diving into how empowering our people through effective leadership and a strong culture can drive real growth. Joining me is culture transformation coach Zoe Tuffs from Times Ten. Together, we’ll unpack some of the biggest leadership challenges agencies face—like ignoring culture issues, promoting "accidental managers" without proper support, and overvaluing productivity metrics at the expense of meaningful outcomes. Zoe will also share her top tips for creating lasting change in 2025 and of course, we'll be uncovering more opportunities for marginal gains. And don’t forget, we’ve got a book giveaway! Join the conversation on LinkedIn or Instagram using #SmallSparkTheory, and you could win a copy of Reculturing by Melissa Daimler, Zoe’s must-read recommendation. --- Connect with Zoe on LinkedIn here: to discover more insights on transforming your people & culture strategy, values-led leadership development and team dynamics. Book a free 30-minute chemistry call: here to explore how Zoe can help you achieve your goals. See the impact: Watch a client success video here showing the outcomes achieved with Sledge; a creative film and live experience agency. Transform your people strategy: Explore Times Ten's People & Growth Workshop here. (There’s a 20% discount for Small Spark Theory listeners using the code **SST20**).

    34 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

New business is one of those subjects guaranteed to get a reaction from agency owners everywhere. Many will have a nagging feeling they should be doing a bit more, wonder how other agencies manage to land the accounts they covet, have moments of wild inspiration and energy then falter because the day job just, well gets in the way. Gunpowder’s Lucy Mann has worked in agency new business for over 25 years and has witnessed these scenarios, and many more like them, as an outsourced new business telemarketer, a new business recruitment consultant, in house new business developer, in house head of marketing, and new business mentor across multiple disciplines and agency shapes and sizes. Regardless of size and discipline, many agencies encounter the same new business challenges, and more and more, the solution is not necessarily an ambitious marketing plan, or expensive sales resource, but instead a forensic application of process and a marginal gains approach to performance improvement. Gunpowder’s podcast, Small Spark Theory™ explores the small changes we can make to our sales and marketing process to achieve better new business results. With contributions from a range of experts, each episode will examine a single element of the process in detail, providing manageable tips for improvement. Find our more about Gunpowder Consulting, please visit gunpowderconsulting.com Follow us on Twitter @gunpowdertweets and join the conversation at #smallsparktheory With thanks to Matthew Syed for audio extract permission. Host - Lucy Mann Producer - Isabelle Jarvis

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