Business Development Coordinator: Your 30/60/90 Day Plan

Starting a new role as a Business Development Coordinator? Forget generic onboarding plans. This is about hitting the ground running and proving your value from day one. This article provides a clear roadmap for your first 90 days, focusing on building relationships, understanding the business, and delivering tangible results. This isn’t a theoretical guide; it’s a practical plan to make a real impact.

What You’ll Walk Away With

• A 30/60/90 day plan template tailored for a Business Development Coordinator role, ready to customize.
• A stakeholder mapping template to prioritize relationship building and understand internal dynamics.
• A risk assessment checklist to identify potential roadblocks and proactively mitigate them.
• A communication cadence template to ensure consistent and effective updates to key stakeholders.
• A “first week” email script to introduce yourself and set clear expectations.
• A scorecard to track your progress and demonstrate your impact.
• A list of questions to ask during your first month to quickly grasp the business and its challenges.
• A proof plan translating your early actions into evidence of competence.

Your Promise: From Zero to Value in 90 Days

By the end of this guide, you’ll have a concrete 30/60/90 day plan, a stakeholder map to guide your interactions, and a risk assessment checklist to anticipate challenges. You’ll also get a “first week” email script and a scorecard to measure your progress. This isn’t about just understanding the role; it’s about immediately applying these tools to build relationships, understand the business, and deliver results. Expect to see a measurable improvement in your onboarding experience and a faster path to contributing meaningfully within your first 90 days.

Day 1-30: Listen, Learn, and Map the Landscape

Your first month is about absorbing information and building a foundation. Don’t jump into solutions before you understand the problem. Focus on understanding the business, the team, and the key stakeholders.

Key Activities

• Schedule introductory meetings with key stakeholders. This includes sales, marketing, product, and finance. The goal is to understand their priorities and how your role supports them.
• Review existing business development materials. This includes proposals, presentations, and contracts. Understand what’s worked well and what hasn’t.
• Familiarize yourself with the company’s CRM and other relevant tools. Learn how data is tracked and reported.
• Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) for the business development function. Understand how success is measured.
• Begin building your stakeholder map. This will help you prioritize your relationships and understand the internal dynamics.

Stakeholder Mapping Template

Use this template to organize your stakeholder information:

Stakeholder Mapping Template

Stakeholder: [Name/Title]

Department: [Department]

What they care about: [Key priorities and goals]

How they measure you: [Metrics they use to evaluate your performance]

Communication Style: [Preferred method and frequency of communication]

Potential Conflicts: [Areas where you might encounter disagreements]

Influence Level: [High/Medium/Low]

First Week Email Script

Use this email to introduce yourself and set expectations:

Subject: Getting Started – [Your Name], Business Development Coordinator

Hi [Stakeholder Name],

I’m [Your Name], the new Business Development Coordinator. I’m excited to join the team and support our business development efforts.

My goal for the first few weeks is to learn as much as possible about our current strategies, processes, and key priorities. I’d love to schedule a brief introductory meeting to hear your perspective on [mention a specific area relevant to the stakeholder].

Please let me know what time works best for you.

Thanks,

[Your Name]

Day 31-60: Identify Opportunities and Risks

In your second month, transition from learning to analysis. Identify opportunities for improvement and potential risks that could hinder business development efforts.

Key Activities

• Conduct a SWOT analysis of the business development function. Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
• Review existing business development processes. Look for areas where efficiency can be improved.
• Identify potential new markets or partnerships. Research opportunities that align with the company’s strategic goals.
• Assess potential risks to business development efforts. This includes market risks, competitive risks, and operational risks.
• Develop a risk assessment checklist. This will help you proactively mitigate potential roadblocks.

Risk Assessment Checklist

Use this checklist to identify and assess potential risks:

Risk Assessment Checklist

Risk: [Description of the potential risk]

Likelihood: [High/Medium/Low]

Impact: [High/Medium/Low]

Mitigation Strategy: [Steps to reduce the likelihood or impact of the risk]

Owner: [Person responsible for monitoring and mitigating the risk]

Contingency Plan: [Plan B if the risk materializes]

Day 61-90: Implement and Communicate

Your third month is about taking action and demonstrating your value. Implement your proposed improvements and communicate your progress to key stakeholders.

Key Activities

• Implement your proposed improvements to business development processes. Start with small changes that can be easily measured.
• Develop a communication cadence to keep stakeholders informed of your progress. This includes regular status updates and ad-hoc communications as needed.
• Track your progress against your KPIs. Measure the impact of your implemented improvements.
• Present your findings and recommendations to key stakeholders. This is an opportunity to demonstrate your value and build support for your ideas.
• Refine your 30/60/90 day plan based on your experiences. Adapt your plan to the specific needs of the business.

Communication Cadence Template

Use this template to plan your stakeholder communications:

Communication Cadence Template

Stakeholder: [Name/Title]

Frequency: [Daily/Weekly/Monthly]

Method: [Email/Meeting/Phone]

Content: [Key topics to be covered]

Action Items: [Tasks to be completed before the next communication]

Questions to Ask in Your First Month

Asking the right questions early on is crucial for understanding the business. Here are some examples:

• What are the company’s strategic goals for the next year?
• What are the biggest challenges facing the business development function?
• Who are our key competitors and what are their strengths and weaknesses?
• What are the most important KPIs for the business?
• What are the biggest opportunities for growth?
• What are the biggest risks to the business?
• What are the company’s core values and how do they influence business decisions?
• What are the company’s expectations for my role?

Scorecard for Tracking Progress

Use this scorecard to track your progress and demonstrate your impact. It helps show management that you are serious about your work.

30/60/90 Day Scorecard

Goal: [Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goal]

Target: [Specific target for the goal]

Actual: [Actual results achieved]

Status: [On track/Off track]

Actions: [Steps taken to achieve the goal]

Notes: [Any relevant notes or observations]

What a Hiring Manager Scans for in 15 Seconds

Hiring managers quickly assess your understanding of the role. They look for these signals:

• Clear understanding of business development principles. Do you understand the core concepts and how they apply to this role?
• Ability to build relationships. Can you connect with people and build rapport?
• Analytical skills. Can you analyze data and identify trends?
• Communication skills. Can you communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing?
• Problem-solving skills. Can you identify and solve problems?
• Proactive approach. Do you take initiative and anticipate challenges?
• Results-oriented mindset. Are you focused on achieving results?
• Understanding of the company’s business. Do you understand the company’s products, services, and target market?

The Mistake That Quietly Kills Candidates

Failing to ask clarifying questions early on can be a fatal mistake. It signals a lack of curiosity and a reluctance to learn. To fix this, prepare a list of thoughtful questions to ask during your first few weeks. For example, “What are the biggest challenges you see in the current business development strategy?”

Language Bank for Business Development Coordinators

Use these phrases to communicate effectively:

• “My priority is to understand the current business development landscape.”
• “I’m focused on building relationships with key stakeholders.”
• “I’m eager to contribute to the company’s growth.”
• “I’m committed to achieving results.”
• “I’m always looking for ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness.”
• “I’m a proactive problem-solver.”
• “I’m a strong communicator.”
• “I’m a team player.”
• “I’m a results-oriented individual.”

Proof Plan: Building Credibility in 30 Days

Here’s a 30-day plan to demonstrate your competence:

• Week 1: Schedule introductory meetings with key stakeholders and document their priorities.
• Week 2: Review existing business development materials and identify areas for improvement.
• Week 3: Conduct a SWOT analysis of the business development function.
• Week 4: Develop a risk assessment checklist and present it to key stakeholders.

FAQ

What should I do if I don’t have experience in a specific area of business development?

Focus on your transferable skills and be honest about your lack of experience. Highlight your willingness to learn and your ability to quickly adapt to new situations. Offer to take on additional training or shadowing opportunities to gain the necessary skills.

How can I build relationships with key stakeholders?

Schedule introductory meetings, actively listen to their perspectives, and offer your support. Follow up on your commitments and be a reliable resource. Find common ground and build rapport.

What should I do if I disagree with a stakeholder’s approach?

Listen to their perspective and try to understand their reasoning. Present your own ideas respectfully and support them with data and evidence. Be willing to compromise and find a solution that works for everyone.

How can I measure my success in this role?

Identify the key performance indicators (KPIs) for the business development function and track your progress against those metrics. Regularly report your results to key stakeholders and demonstrate the impact of your efforts.

What are some common mistakes that business development coordinators make?

Failing to build relationships, not understanding the business, not tracking progress, and not communicating effectively are some common mistakes. Proactively avoid these pitfalls by focusing on building a strong foundation, tracking your progress, and communicating regularly with key stakeholders.

How can I stay organized and manage my time effectively?

Use a calendar to schedule your meetings and tasks. Prioritize your activities based on their importance and urgency. Break down large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. Delegate tasks when possible and avoid procrastination.

What are some resources that can help me succeed in this role?

Industry publications, online forums, and professional organizations can provide valuable insights and resources. Network with other business development professionals and learn from their experiences. Stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices.

How can I handle pressure and stress in this role?

Prioritize your tasks, manage your time effectively, and take breaks when needed. Delegate tasks when possible and avoid taking on too much. Practice stress-reduction techniques such as exercise, meditation, or spending time with loved ones.

What should I do if I encounter a roadblock or challenge?

Identify the root cause of the problem and develop a plan to overcome it. Seek advice from mentors or colleagues. Be persistent and don’t give up easily. Learn from your mistakes and use them as opportunities for growth.

How can I demonstrate my value to the company?

Track your progress against your KPIs and regularly report your results to key stakeholders. Highlight the impact of your efforts on the company’s bottom line. Be a proactive problem-solver and offer innovative solutions. Be a reliable resource and build strong relationships with key stakeholders.

How important is networking in this role?

Networking is extremely important. Build relationships both internally and externally. Attend industry events, join professional organizations, and connect with other business development professionals online. These connections can provide valuable insights, resources, and opportunities.

What is the best way to handle a difficult stakeholder?

Listen to their concerns and try to understand their perspective. Be patient and respectful. Find common ground and build rapport. Offer solutions that address their needs and concerns. Escalate the issue to your manager if necessary.

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