Rainmaker

A rainmaker is a skilled individual who has an exceptional ability to bring in new business prospects, onboard affluent clients, or create significant revenue-making opportunities for the company. They are efficient at closing high-value deals and building strong business relations to ensure the firm's success.

Such a professional can make a significant difference or turn the game when the business is struggling or going through a tough phase. They hold a strong reputation in the company and are often considered executives, principals, or partners by top management. Indeed, they are valuable human resources for the firm.

A rainmaker is someone who can bring extraordinary business opportunities from affluent clients to the table. Such an individual can be an agent rainmaker, a full-time employee, an associate, or a contract worker for the company; the association doesn't matter, but the reputation does. 

These professionals are found in almost every industry today, especially in investment banking, real estate, business, and entertainment. Some attract top clients, while others successfully secure funding from wealthy investors. However, earlier, this term was confined to legal firms, public speaking, political campaigns, and investment banking. 

For instance, if a salesperson working for a tea brand can sell more than his monthly targets, then he would be considered a rainmaker salesperson for the business. In another example, suppose a lawyer working for a leading law firm has a portfolio of winning cases for some affluent clients, serving them as a rainmaker consultant. The term rainmaker was coined from the Native American culture of North America. The people believed that professional practitioners could bring rain with their magic, religious prayers, ritual chants, or mysticism. Thus, they were called rainmakers. 

Such professionals are commonly found in marketing teams as star salespersons or top-performing managers. They are the assets of any business. Given below are the various characteristics that make a professional a rainmaker: 

• Charismatic: Such an individual should have the magical power to bring in business and revenue streams.
• Intellectual: They should have complete knowledge of the field, industry, and market to seek opportunities for problem-solving.
• Confident: They need to be confident in their decisions, even if they bring failure at times. Recognizing the worth of inner strength would bring long-term success.
• Positive: Such a person should reflect a positive attitude to attract the positive charges in the universe, I.e., success in whatever they do.
• Passionate: Passion about one's job is a key driver of success, so it is a critical characteristic.
• Persevering: Another important trait is being consistent and not giving up in any situation. 
• Friendly: In business, being friendly means establishing solid relationships with clients, subordinates, and senior management to ensure a positive flow of communication.
• Creative: Creativity provides a different perspective of looking at the problems and, thus, helps brainstorm innovative solutions.
• Growth Oriented: Such a professional often focuses on their success, growth, and development. They do this by learning new skills and seeking more knowledge in their area of expertise.
• Emotionally Intelligent: They possess the art of commanding their emotions and the power to influence others emotionally.
• Self-Promotor: These individuals often bolster their abilities and success stories in front of their team to motivate them and maintain a good reputation.

A rainmaker plays diverse roles in an organization, from being a top performer to becoming a team leader. Their other prominent functions in business are discussed below:

1. Hunter: They serve as hunters of new opportunities and business prospects for the company.
2. Educator: They learn new skills in their journey to achieve perfection in their work and educate their colleagues and team about their best practices.
3. Influencer: They can influence the client's decisions (from rejection to affirmation) through their persuasive and collaborative approach.
4. Consultant: Rainmaker consultants such as investment advisors have contacts with wealthy clients who seek their suggestions before making any decision.
5. Facilitator: Such individuals monitor and command the overall process of delivering value to the customers to outperform their expectations. 

A rainmaker is not a position but a reputational recognition that an individual can nurture with constant efforts of learning, growing, and contributing in a business environment. The key is to master deep knowledge and skills in the industry while practicing them for perfection. Thus, the person can seek professional courses to develop the desired skill set. 

Such professionals should take a logical and empathetic approach to decision-making and be ready to take charge of the frontline in rough or peak times. Indeed, customer-centricity is essential to driving long-term success. 

Moreover, one should always be curious to solve problems independently. They should be creative, innovative, and visionary leaders in their fields. Also, they should have the patience to listen to the problems of the clients, their team members, and senior management to foster open and responsive communication.

Consequently, they should be ready to mentor or guide their team by providing constructive feedback while allowing them to work their way out. Also, a great leader often appreciates their team for even small achievements and makes them feel valued.