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John Lennon famously said, “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” In business, this typically means just when you can’t afford for a disaster to happen, it will. Regardless of the size of your business, problems happen all the time and can have a significant impact on your business. So how do we turn these “Faults” into a “Feature”?
During a recent lunch time conversation with a friend of mine, he said that he couldn’t be sure that the Eiffel Tower was really there. After a bit of questioning I almost had to agree with him. We have all heard the saying “I’ll believe it when I see it” and many people live by this, almost mantra like!
We live in a global economy. Whether you are big business or small business, it is easy to reach out to the other side of the world and get things done for a lower price. But there is a lesson that the big boys learned when they sent work overseas that a few of us smaller players are just beginning to learn. Let me explain.
Many Australian managers tolerate under-performance because they are scared. Performance management is seen to be a minefield loaded with trip-wires so to play it safe, managers “put up with” poor staff. The reality is that they want you to fire them, and so does your team. They won’t admit it, they probably don’t know it, but you and they are better off parting company.
I am frequently asked, "What's the best place to exhibit?" Sometimes this becomes, "What do you think of the XYZ show for me?" Some of my boutique clients tell me that they have been exhibiting at certain markets and they are wondering if it is time to go to a big expo and which one they should go to first. There are a couple of things to consider when you ask yourself these questions: Where is your Target Market?
You know what it’s like. You walk through the office and you can see your team rushing to look busy even though they seem to be cruising. The sales figures are bearable but could be better and no-one seems to care. You get a little angry and think, “If they don’t fire up, I’m gunna fire them!!” You are not alone with this kind of situation – it happens more often than you think.
Does your energy fluctuate over the course of the day – not a simple up and down, but a wild and massive high and low? Do you drink lots of tea, coffee, energy drinks and wish you didn’t drink that many? Do you get exhausted just turning up to work? Well it is time for more sustainable energy in your life. It is easy to get a boost from an energy drink but with the artificial up comes a matching down afterwards. Having some healthy work habits will keep you on track and with more than enough energy for the days. Here are 10 ways to build more energy in your day:
The audience are hushed as the MC comes to the lectern. The MC looks nervously at their notes and then looks up to start. "Our next speaker is a person who needs no introduction…" They then go on for five minutes introducing the person. It is as if they are reading their resume to everyone. As the organiser there is only one thing you can do. Scream “Aaarrrrgggghhh!!!” and storm on stage to kick them off!! Maybe not.
I have seen many speakers, read many articles and heard many ideas on how best to motivate team members. There are so many opinions and ideas with different steps and methodologies that it is easy to lose focus on what is important, the team member! Unfortunately, there is no “one way fits all” approach to motivating team members. But there are the six key factors you need to take into account if you want your efforts to have an impact. 1. Make It Personal
There are so many profiling tools around now. Here is a short list: - DISC - Myers Briggs - Enneagram - Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument - Human Synergistics - EQ – Emotionial Intelligence - IQ – Intelligence Quotient - SQ – Spiritual Intelligence Without trying too hard, you can find a heap more of them.
There are times when I stop what I am doing in my business and ask myself the reasons why I am doing this. I am sure that it seemed like a good idea at the time! Working late at night, no guaranteed monthly income, conce s about cash flow, BAS Statements, my wife asking when I will finish in the office and spend time with her – Why am I doing this again?
Too many businesses are focussed on what they do and not their customers. Even if you are the best manufacturer in the world, without sales you will not be in business. Marketing guru Winston Marsh preaches that “You have to be a better Marketer of what you do than Doer of what you do.” So how good are you at marketing? Most businesses are great at what they do but struggle with marketing and sales. Manufacturers are no different. Here are the key elements you have to consider in your marketing approach if you want to get results: Is it Measurable?
Are you affected by BSOs, or as they are know Bright Shiny Objects? If so, you are not alone. Most people have a strong idea of what they are after and then as they set off toward their goal they are distracted if not completely side-tracked by BSOs.
In my Local Area Marketing and Get More Face To Face Sales presentations, I talk about making it easy for the customer to buy. One element of this is a clear instruction on what you want your customer to do. In essence, a good Call to Action. Without knowing it, we are surrounded by Calls to Action. Think of some of the commercials you have seen or heard, or interactions you may have had at a shopping centre. You will have heard: “Call in the next 15 minutes and get a bonus ….” “Use EFTPOS when you next go shopping.” “American Express, don’t leave home without it.”r
The best sales people never sell. They never sit over you and shove a contract and a pen under you nose wanting you to sign. They never encourage you to buy the outfit that they know and you know you don’t really like. They don’t lump you with a “once in a lifetime opportunity”. Quite simply, the best sales people never sell - they simply follow a four-step process.
I don’t believe in Common Sense any more. By definition, Common Sense is the sense that the majority of people use, the sense that is common among people. When I look around and see the “sense” everyone is applying, I want none of it. It doesn’t make sense to live on a diet of high sugar and high fat foods, have a sedentary lifestyle and then wonder why we have such a problem with obesity. Who would have thought that eating foods and drinking fluids that are high in energy while doing no exercise could make you fat?! Quick let’s sue someone because they should have warned us.
Working with companies on their Trade Show and Expo presence has shown me how many people are lacking in the art of engagement. Exhibiting is like Speed Dating. If you are lucky you have about 90 seconds to convert them from slightly interested to the second date (or qualified prospect in business parlance). Here are the 5 keys to engaging with strangers at your next show: 1 Smile