Interpersonal Business

One of the highest priorities in management is to surround itself with exceptional people. Similar to Lou Pinella’s remarkable success with the Mariners back in the 90’s, management can create a winning team with a sense of good timing and respect for each team member. Use staff members to their full potential, and show confidence and support. Reassess their current desires, observations and strengths on a periodic basis.

Those who’ve survived in business have done so by never deviating from their model of insuring a positive and rewarding customer experience. Now’s the time to analyze just how user-friendly your company is. Make sure everyone on your staff understands their importance in the total “sales process.” Create a customer experience mission statement, including minimum standards of performance, and then provide the training to fulfill the objective. It’s time to dazzle the marketplace.

Each member of your staff must carry their own weight within your organization. Long-term employees have advantages in that they understand the history of your company and have valuable relationships that contribute to the whole. They can also feel “entitled” to their position solely on the basis of longevity. Managers have the responsibility to maintain the best person for the job or they become part of the problem. All members must bring merit to their profession as well as to the company – no one member is more important than the organization as a whole.

With the advances in technology, it’s more important than ever to find balance; we can have too much of a good thing. Capacity is now the issue, as well as keeping an eye on quality over quantity. Representing too many factories dilutes your ability to maintain quality relationships with not only your staff, but also with the factories, that will survive in tougher times.