10 ways to improve business performance
Here are ten ways to make sure that you operate with purpose, vision and courage.
You can super-charge your business and improve the performance of it!
1. ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS
Time is the scarcest resource and biggest killer of most businesses. Owners get distracted and focus too much time and energy on the wrong things.
Identify and eliminate distractions to your mission. Be brave – slash standard meeting times, reduce unnecessary admin, delegate and cull.
2. SACK CUSTOMERS
Get rid of ten time-wasters, bad payers and the like. We dare you!
3. INVEST MORE
Having freed up time and headspace from deploying points one and two above, make sure you ring-fence time, key people and money for some of the initiatives below. Redeploy with passion!
4. GET A PLAN
You don’t go on a journey without a map or any idea of where you’re headed – so why fly blind with your business? Have a planning process, create a gutsy plan – and execute.
5. RECONFIGURE
Don’t let people who [don’t get it / won’t get it / don’t care] be a millstone around your neck. If they’re not right, do them a favour and free up their futures.
6. USE TECHNOLOGY
Decrease admin, improve comms, improve reporting and accountability through the use of the best apps. Slash paper use and automate where possible.
7. VALUE-ADD
Don’t do the same old, same old. Refocus on value-add, making a difference. You want to do work with impact, meaning and value – yes?!
8. BE DIFFERENT
Baaaahh! Small businesses can look and sound the same. Break the mould and position yourself to attract ambitious, growing and engaged customers and employees.
9. DEPLOY MARKETING
Create an effective marketing plan to increase reach and penetration. Set aside a percentage to treat this seriously.
Remember that customers and prospects are online too. Make sure that you engage online and incorporate this as a key part of your marketing plan.
10. GO FOR THE JUGULAR
There are still far too many traditional or even outdated businesses that give your industry a bad rep. Their customers deserve more – maybe you provide that?
Advertise, target and look for referral relationships to drive good quality customers your way. They’re there if you proactively seek them out.