Proposal Internal Coordination
Managing Up
As a marketing professional, effectively managing information flow from internal team members, including technical staff and leadership, is crucial. These individuals juggle multiple responsibilities and deadlines, and although they recognize the importance of marketing support, it may not always be their primary focus.
Situations when you might need to reach out to team members include:
When they are recommended for inclusion in a proposal, you need assistance building their resume.
When you need their help with project details.
When they can offer insights on the client or type of building.
When you need input on the project approach, schedule, or fees.
Here are some tips to ensure you receive information on time
Bring them up to speed: If team members did not participate in the pre-proposal activities, you must update them. Be very clear in your instructions and communication. Send an email, request confirmation, and follow up with a phone call if there's no acknowledgment within 24 hours. If there's no response or they cannot assist, inform your manager or leadership team to make alternative arrangements.
Be proactive: To streamline collaboration, take the initiative to complete as much preparatory work as possible. For example, if a team member is responsible for developing a project approach, provide drafts from previous proposals in a Word document for their review and input.
Frequent check-ins: Maintain regular check-ins to ascertain if they need more information on clarification. This helps you gauge their progress and keeps the project moving forward efficiently.
