subject: Business Owners, "sea" Challenges Differently With These Key Navigational Skills [print this page] As an avid fisherman, I guess I really do "sea" things differently. Frankly, Wall Street is looking like a dog chasing its tail, but that doesn't have to be the case for you and your business. It's time to break that pattern of ineffectiveness, and make some key changes that will turn your turbulent seas into a smooth-sailing adventure. Even in a tough economy, there is more than one way to reach your goal.
Granted, it's difficult to see through the haze, what with the U.S. economy butting against strong headwinds and Europe's anchor of debt weighing it down, but sometimes in a head wind the best answer is to quit fighting it and just turn around and ride the wave. This is not to say, "Give up". Quite the contrary. You can either steer your ship toward the rocks and crash big time, or you can take the smart approach and put your muscle toward steering the ship to calmer waters.
That's where a business coach comes in. Now, it's true. As business coaches, we are fond of comparing ourselves to athletic coaches, and there's a reason. Athletic teams would not survive without an effective coach helping them work out the strategies. Yet, if you're like most business owners these days, you feel more like you're riding turbulent seas rather than playing on a level playing field.
Yes, the water is choppy. Yes, the winds are torrential. And yes, you can navigate through it with the right strategies guiding you. Part of the challenge for you is to really look at your business and see if all systems are fully engaged. Let me offer some indispensable advice in the areas of Team, Delivery, Measuring, and Systems:
1) Your All-Hands-On-Deck Team: You stay up on the latest software, learn the new technology, keep up with the times (if not, that might be a place to start), but what about your "people"? People "depreciate" just like old computers, but that doesn't mean you need to replace them. You simply need to train them. Unless of course, they really are un-trainable. Then get rid of them. Cold? Yeah. But that's business. Part of your challenge, then, will be getting proper training programs in place.
Here are 3 key areas most "teams" need training in:
* New Technologies, including new database and software programs
* Management skills,including conflict-resolution and supervisory skills
* Sales, customer service, and phone ettiquette
2) Your Deadeye Delivery and Distribution: A lot of business owners do not systemize this part of their business, and that's where problems can develop quickly. There is so much to share with you on how to systemize your delivery and distribution, but here are 3 key things to consider when revamping your delivery and distribution processes:
* Go paperless but make sure you have a good backup system for data
* Keep your promises - deliver more than you promise!
* Organize your stock. Make high turnover stock easily accessible
3) Your Tonnage Test and Measure: Most business owners test and measure sales outcomes and ad campaigns, but so often they continue using ineffective systems thinking that outcomes will somehow be different. They aren't. Here are areas that are often overlooked:
* Monitor where you are to determine where you need to go with monthly and annual budgets
* Measure conversion rates for EACH salesperson
* Put new systems in place if what you've been doing isn't working
4) Your Ship-Shape Systems: Developing effective systems is about making your business more efficient in the areas of Marketing, Management, Money, and Team. To do this:
* Document all work-flow processes, all sales and marketing systems, all information flow processes
* Use a "purpose-designed" computer database program to track customers and leads
* Prioritize extraordinary tasks
Granted, this skims the surface of effective systems business owners need to address, but it does give you insights into how proper systems can truly help you get back on course. Frankly, you can abandon ship and watch from the shore as economies across the world are swept in and out of crisis by the turbulent tide, or you can slip past all that, steer clear of imposters, and navigate through tough waters with the pros, cruising straight to profit. Your choice. Going it alone is certainly courageous, but not very wise. Why navigate alone when there are experts ready to help you put tried and true systems in place?
Look around you. Where's your ship headed? If it's not exactly where you want it to be going, we're here. As business coaches, we "sea" challenges differently and it's time to get on board. What's your biggest challenge? Let me know. I have solutions.
