In our previous blog,Top 5 Leadership Tips for Growing Your Business (of any size!), we discussed some of the core infrastructure that will allow your business to grow. In this blog we discuss the action items that can be implemented ASAP to move your business forward!
In order to grow a business you need a great team. The culture needs to be one of open communication with clearly defined goals for the business and the employee. You need to have a positive work as a team until the job gets done mentality with a focus on putting the customer first. Negative attitudes will kill this culture quickly so don’t put up with negativity.
ACTION ITEM:If you notice negative attitudes address it quickly. Sit down with the person or have their supervisor sit down with them and point out yourmission and core valuesand that their attitude isn’t fitting in with the companies values. If there attitude doesn’t quickly improve move them out.
Without sales a business can’t grow. Every member of the team including the service team must be focused on sales. The service team must support the sales team so they can be out on the street selling. The service team is the face of the organization as they are speaking with your client’s everyday so they must also keep their antennas up to cross sell additional products to existing customers and to ask for referrals. Reward and recognize your service team for these referrals and your business will grow.
ACTION ITEM:In your team meetings recognize the service team employees that referred business that month. Let everyone know how much the employee made for the referral fee or commission-everyone likes money!Thank the employeesfor referring and for helping the company to grow. With growth there is more opportunity for everyone.
In order to grow a business you need stability in your staff or you will waste countless hours finding candidates, interviewing, training, etc. which drains your current staff.Pay for top talent and provide them with a great benefits package. This will help reduce staff turnover and increase productivity.Don’t be cheap.
ACTION ITEM:Continue to try to come up with new ways to reward your staff. Increase employer healthcare contribution, add a 401k match, include employer paid life insurance, pay for a gym membership. There are some inexpensive ways to add to your employees benefit package which will help build aloyal staffand will improve retention.
You have heard the old cliché “Hire Slow, Fire Fast”. I believe the Fire Fast is the most important.Every time I’ve had a bad feeling about an employee they never work out. Get these negative attitudes and underperformers out of your organization ASAP or they will drag down other members of your team you have worked hard to build.
ACTION ITEM:If you find yourself avoiding employees or dealing with certain employees it’s time to move them out. Get your managers on board with recognizing when employees aren’t fitting in with yourculturewhether that is attitude or work ethic and have them on the same page with you on firing fast.
I truly believe that giving back to the community will help grow your business. Creating an atmosphere where you encourage your team to give back will pay dividends. Give your employee’s time off to volunteer and also volunteer as a team. Everyone feels good about helping others so if you pay it forward your business will prosper!
ACTION ITEM:Recognize your employees that are doing great things in the community in your team meetings. Have aPower of Giving Tablein your office where you display pictures and letters that show the amazing things your team is doing in the community. Post pictures on letters on your web site. Keep giving back!#powerofgiving
We’d love to hear your feedback and know what action items you’ve applied that have assisted with the growth of your company! Please leave your feedback in the comments or email Ed Ellsasser at:ee@primegroupins.com
Thanks and Let’s Grow!