Building better businesses
Has your business stepped into the year with a confident stride with some new goals and strategies?
Evaluate what you are doing right. Making money is the goal of every business and we usually focus on things we want to change. See how you can continue or increase your commitment to the positive ways you currently run your business. Ask yourself what three major strengths can we continue to use in the growth of our business in 2010?
Treat your employee’s right. If you’re starting 2010 with experienced, motivated employees, you’ve probably treated them well last year. Companies are realising the importance of finding and keeping their best staff. It means providing a dynamic, healthy and rewarding workplace, not just a pay cheque. And as big business has globalized, it means respecting human rights and accepting the challenges. Go the extra mile. The more you give the more you get.
Increase your efforts with your customers. If the economy turns sour in 2010, your customers are going to have to make some cuts. Make sure you’re not the one on the chopping block by working with them, serving them well, and making sure they don’t forget you. Research shows that, in reality poor service is the number one issue driving customers away from your business, customers who are exposed to negative servicing are highly likely to leave, with examples of negative servicing include being passed around in a call centre’s, having the phone put down on them, poor product knowledge and hidden fees and charges.
Increasing your sales; It´s important to speak with the right person or the persons who can help you close the deal. The decision maker is the key to moving any business deal forward. However, sometimes you need to deal with two or three different people to get to the right person. Often times the person who signs the check isn´t necessarily the person who makes the decision on what the firm is looking for. If you´ve ever set an appointment with someone who has no buying power or authority then you understand how important getting to the right person the first time.
Back up your data. How often do we hear of businesses losing precious data when a computer system crashes? We have had several major disasters and a hard drive crash; luckily we learnt the importance of constantly backing up and do this on a regular basis. Ideally, store your backup data in another location.
Keep learning. Whether you work alone or have employees, you are your company’s most important asset. Go to seminars, read, take classes, and learn new skills. Your brain is your most important business asset so continue to stimulate it. Success and progress towards achieving your goals in life begin with knowing where you are going. Your mental attitude gives power to everything you do. If your attitude is positive, your actions and thoughts further your ends? If your attitude is negative, you are constantly undermining your own efforts.