I’ve written about the average tenure of a CMO (23 months) time and time again here on The B2B Lead blog. And, even though I know full well the risks that come with this position, I made the leap recently. Fortunately, the new company is a ReachForce customer so I can continue to blog here on The B2B Lead.

Just as I was wrapping up projects and readying myself to take on new challenges, Six Tips for a First-Time or Newly Appointed CMO arrived in my inbox. More good fortune! It seems that Michael Sprouse had generously shared his lessons learned as a new CMO for Adzoogle. NOTE: You have to register to try the site for free. And, I highly recommend it.

I do believe Michael may have forgotten a very important piece of advice, however. I would suggest adding #7. Benchmark and begin tracking and reporting results of your efforts immediately. Perhaps with Michael’s advice and a fanatical commitment to accountability, newly appointed CMOs may buck the 23 month trend.

1. Don’t jam Marketing down people’s throat—be a sponge
   Everyone hates a know-it-all anyway. But in this particular case, for a new CMO or a CMO at an organization not yet comfortable with the CMO role, it’s important that your early efforts center on learning the organization, the business model, the customers, the staff and the infrastructure.
2. Make your first hire or personnel move very carefully and wisely
   The perception of the CMO’s ability to build and run a team starts with the first hire or first major personnel move that he or she makes. Hire someone better than you at that particular function.
3. Get some small wins early
   You will build a foundation of small wins that will then turn into larger ones shortly thereafter, all the while building credibility and instilling confidence from those around you.
4. Establish a close bond with other chief executives at the company
   Most of the time, a CMO cannot succeed without other senior executive buy-in and support. Sometimes, that buy-in is already built into the fabric of the company. Other times, it is earned over time.
5. After a few months, immerse yourself in a few important strategic initiatives for the company
   After gaining momentum, jump into big things right away and sink your teeth into important issues.
6. Always judge and evaluate your own performance
   As a C-level executive, you should not need a CEO or anyone else to provide you feedback on how you’re doing. You should know.

Any other nuggets of advice to share with this first-time VP of Marketing?