Interpersonal Business

With the barrage of decisions thrust upon those in management, there can be a less-than-confident and decisive decision made purely out of urgency. How often have you thrown up your hands and said, “What the Heck,” “Let’s give it a Shot,” or the ever villainous, “We can always make it up somewhere else!” We should never allow these clear red flags determine the fate of our organizations.

American Business is collectively ready to turn the page on what have been the most difficult years in the past few decades, or at least as difficult as in my professional career. The real question becomes, are we truly better prepared? Past avenues must now be reviewed, and adjustments are likely to be required to endure and flourish in a new marketplace.

Unconventional wisdom would suggest it’s time to stick your neck out a bit further. If your company’s marketing strategies are past their “freshness date,” it’s is also very, very likely that many of your competitors are unknowingly in a similar position. This can be the very best possible time to step out of the pack by distinguishing yourself as well, yes, a bit “unconventional.”

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.

There is tremendous risk when management proceeds with more entrepreneurial spirit than understanding and knowledge on a new project … the unknown will kill you. Supportive and loyal staff members with only surface knowledge will compound the problem. You must assess the “major and minor” skills of your staff, and be willing to bruise some egos by hiring an expert or consultant.