Prioritise Your Day - Keep Focus - Win!
Whether you run your own business or manage a team, there are times when things
don't go to plan. Like:-
- Your key people don't show up.
- A
deadline shifts.
- Your boss turns up unexpectedly.
- You get really busy
beyond expectations.
- ...and more.
How do you get clear on the priority
of the day?
Value it - that's how!
So, if you run any sort
of business, consider what the most important thing would be to your business,
if you were down to the barest of bones in personnel numbers, for just one
day, what would you do?
Here are some thoughts...
Be
honest with yourself, and very, very realistic - in fact, plan what you can achieve
and then less! It is far better to be great at less, than poor at too much.
Be honest with your people and get them on board - appeal to their
emotional side, "I need your help", usually works.
Think damage limitation
- what would do the most harm to your business - and resolve that first
(hint - think Customer).
With customers, be honest and realistic with them
- usually, they will be very understanding if you are clear about it being a bad day
- they will not forgive inadequate information and poor performance.
Plan short-term solutions on the run - by making space for thinking time (see 1 above) to resolve where your problems are today, so you move on tomorrow.
Celebrate success with your
people. Back to basics and succeeding against all the odds builds teams - utilise
the opportunity to let it sink in - together!
Learn and make changes - so
that there will not be a next time. Your clients and your own staff have only so
much generosity when things go wrong - so make sure it doesn't happen again.
Fire-fighting happens! So, when you need to have a day doing just the top priorities for your business, let go of everything else. Have the courage to be honest with yourself, park not-necessary-now stuff and enjoy your day truly in the business. Be honest with your people and welcome them on board the firetruck! Finally, yet most importantly, be honest with your customers and clients, forging new, mutually supportive relationships with them too.
If you need to do this too often for comfort, you need a rethink - then is the time for some real 'source' problem solving (see the "Solving Problems with Whys" article at www.ezinearticles.com - checkout 'Expert Authors, sort by name, Martin Haworth)Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide,
mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He
has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, http://www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com
(Note to editors. This article may be edited for use in your publication or
newsletter as long as a live link to the website is included)
...helping you, to help your people, to help your business grow...
Related News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
An Honest Look at Your Business
There is a difference between being comfortable and being in apathy.
Succession Planning for Your Business - 7 Key Benefits
A core activity in many successful businesses, Succession Planning is simple and quick to implement - here are seven reasons why you will find it of great value in your business or organisation. But, you need to lead - it works only as well as the support it gets!
Cultural Differences: Making it Work Virtually
Working virtually adds a whole new dimension to the phrase "cultural differences". It immediately becomes apparent how different people around the world work, live and network.
Turn Your Speech Into A Leadership Talk
My experience working with thousands of leaders world wide for the past two decades teaches me that most leaders are screwing up their careers.
Work Life a Balancing Act
Australians are loosing their laidback, carefree reputation, as we continue to work longer hours, exercise less and neglect our leisure and family time.
Ten Top Ways for Managers to Motivate Their People
So to help start the ball rolling, here are ten top ways to get your people
motivated. Ten small steps for you to start with.
The Leadership Imperative: Making Your Leadership Your Life
Nearly all leaders I've encountered are underachievers. They're getting a fraction of the results they are capable of. And in most cases, it's their fault. Their failures are the result of the choices they make. For the opportunities to consistently get more results are all around them all the time, theirs for the taking.
Meetings: Don?t Just Show Up, Stand Out and Shine
Meetings, whether they're regularly scheduled routines in your company or now-and-then get-togethers, can be a place for you to gain positive visibility and to showcase your capabilities. Here are three strategies that will help you stand out and shine.
Creativity and Innovation Management ? Money Doesnt Do It
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.
Assertiveness Helps Accomplish Everything
When trying to get something accomplished, assertive behavior is the most effective. Although other methods may accomplish the intended ends, the alternatives imperil our own rights or those of others, creating conflict and building mistrust into relationships. One of the keys to effectiveness is learning how to communicate thoughts and feelings without jeopardizing yourself or others, and this ability elevates both morale and productivity in the workplace.
The Professor Makes A Minus Power Move
If you think the power move has costs, consider the alternative. We are talking -- four friends -- bringing one another up to date on our personal and professional lives.
Getting the Most from Appraisals
Does your organisation have one of those annual 'occasions' that few look forward to: the annual appraisal or performance review? How do you look forward to it? I wonder how people talk about it before and after?
Your Biggest Problem in Business? Work Ethic
US Work Ethic Issues
and Lack of service
Your Blueprint For Business Success
Before you start your own business one of the first things you need to do is draw up your business plan. This is your blueprint for success. Your business plan states the purpose of your business. It never ceases to amaze me that so few businesses have any type of written business plan. Because without one, you have very little, if any, chance of success.
Boost Your Leadership Skills By Disciplining Yourself In The Way Of The Question Mark
I'm often asked to come in to organizations and give a motivational speech to their employees. I reply that I'm not a motivational speaker. Never have been. Never will be. Don't want to be. I do something else. I teach their people how to become motivational leaders. That's a far more productive endeavor.
Delegation - The Basic Steps To Reducing Your Workload And Creating A Successful Team
If you have a task greater than you can handle on your own, then you need to delegate. Not a choice many of us choose to make, but one we can all learn. This article will take you through why delegation is so important and give you simple steps to take so that you communicate the vision, motivate your members and build them as individuals and as a successful team.
Biometrics and ?Return On Investment?
At this time of tight budgets, the mantra of business is "Return On Investment!" With few exceptions, expenditures are measured against the bottom line. Outlays for capital expenses are strictly evaluated in terms of profitability and the total cost of ownership. The era of purchasing new gadgets due to their "whiz-bang" factor is long gone. How can biometrics provide the sought after "R.O.I." in this environment?
The High, High Price of Distrust
A paper manufacturer with over 300 employees once announced that it was planning to move to more spacious and attractive premises thirty miles down the road.
This Old Business
Not long ago I was asked to come out and take a look at a business that had been around for about 10 years... but the owner was frustrated with the amount of money he was making.
Management Team Section of Business Plans
Writing an award winning business plan is a great skill, but rather than winning any awards you need to get funded. In order to be funded the bank, venture capital firm or even family members need to be sure they will either be paid back or receive their required return on investment. To succeed in business you need a quality management team one, which can move you thru the rough waters of start-up and control the ship as you sail away from the competition.
|
