The professional body dedicated to raising the standards and enhancing the credibility of marketers working in the professions

Most leadership courses will tell you that the first thing your firm needs to do in order to improve performance is to create a compelling vision. However, the problem is that this is where leaders stop - they create an amazing vision but struggle to make it happen. Having a compelling vision is essential, but it is the objectives and actions of your individual partners that will make it happen.

This 90 minute workshop covers the key areas of social media activity for professional services - from the implementation of key strategies and policies to the daily management of social media engagement and measurement.

Neuro-linguistic-programming (NLP) is an increasingly widely used tool in many areas of business. Unwisely dismissed by some as insubstantial and faddish, the reality is that it is a potent mix of coaching, cognitive behavioural and visioning techniques, storytelling, questioning and active listening skills. In practice NLP can be used with great effect in problem-solving, objection-handling and influencing, training, strategy planning, personal development and leadership. Its ability to foster deeper mutual understanding and empathy makes it an ideal client development tool.

Content marketing is big news right now and many firms are keen to get in on the action. It promises more leads, lower costs per lead, more referrals and increased brand visibility but how do you get started and how do you get it right?

Whether in marketing, management or client facing situations we all sometimes need to know how to deal with 'difficult people' and how to make our firm's political structures work for us. In this interactive session Nancy Slessenger will demonstrate how we can handle tricky situations and difficult people with ease and confidence, including:

• How to identify and deal with bullying
• How to deal with aggression
• People who won't make decisions
• Negative people
• People who are very thick-skinned and can't take a hint
• People who can't see the big picture and are always nit-picking
• People who are overly-emotional

Back by 'popular demand', Carolyn Roberson will update us on trends in key account management and tendering in the past couple of years. To whet your appetite:

• Where is the emphasis placed in procurement - cost or quality or both?
• How do you make the most of panel appointments?
• What trends are emerging amongst clients and professional services' decision makers?