|
|
| www.1001TopWords.com |
|
|
Three Business Lessons From The US Postal Service
There was a buzz in the air recently about the US Postal Service. Seems as though they were running into a budget deficit in the billions. The Postal Service claimed they must cut Saturday service to customers to stay afloat -- a service they had provided for years. And one that customers expected. They said people using email instead of regular mail made a major dent in their profits. Customers were in an uproar. If customers had a choice, they'd lose many. Welcome to the real world of business. There are three lessons in this for your business. Lesson #1: Use indicators, in addition to cash flow, that help you watch the ebb and flow of your business. What can you measure that will tell you quickly -- so you can act -- about what's happening in your business? Lesson #2: Don't just whack a service you've been providing your customers. If you need to cut, look inside your business for processes and procedures that can be streamlined to save you money. Cut the fat of your business, not the services. Lesson #3: Always be on the lookout for new competitors entering your business space. Don't wait for that competition to start taking away your customers. Be proactive. Find ways to offer more value to keep your customers loyal. About The Author (C) 2004 Denise O'Berry. Small Business Expert Denise O'Berry helps business owners take action to grow their business. Find out more at http://www.whatspossible.com
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Reflections in the Glass Ceiling The recent news about one of America's most powerful woman ceo's being removed from office has raised the discussion about gender bias, again. It disappoints me that in 2005, I still hear women clients talking about "the old boys' network". They say "glass ceilings" are holding them back in terms of advancement, pay equity, recognition and career satisfaction. While I have no doubt their assessments are valid; it's important that we don't generalize too much. There are other reasons as well. Dealing with Difficult People You know, this would be a great business if it weren't for having to deal with people all the time? Productive Meetings: How to Make Your Meetings More Productive There's one simple secret to effective meetings: set an agenda and stick to it. The agenda drives the content and outcomes of the meeting and, where appropriate, should reflect the needs of all attendees so everyone has a buy-in and an interest in the outcomes. Follow these simple steps for planning and running meetings and you'll be amazed at what you can achieve. And, just in case not everyone in your organisation is following these steps to great meetings, I've included some key questions you should ask before you accept any meeting invitation?yes, you do have an option and you can say no if joining in the meeting is not the most effective use of your time. Top 10 Things Every Business Should Provide for Every Worker - Including the Boss! Doing business and meeting the needs of workers is increasingly complex. Employees and managers often prefer a cafeteria-list of fringe benefits (a "flexible spending account") so they can choose increased health care, child care or more time off as their individual preferences dictate. But underneath these specifics, there are central needs that most of us want from our work. Money can not buy happiness, and by itself it will rarely purchase a loyal, highly motivated staff (even in a one-person professional office or small family business). The Ten Keys to Maximizing Employee Performance 1. Let people know what you expect. If people know what's expected of them, that's what they'll do--if they don't know what's expected, they'll do something else. Communicate clear and unambiguous performance expectations and hold people accountable for their achievement. 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. Experiences of Management Coaching (Part 2) In our experience, we have found that there are several reasons managers fail to get employees to see and acknowledge that they have a problem. Five Steps to Better Employee Management Hiring employees is a huge responsibility. Before hiring anyone, be sure to carefully analyze your needs in terms of extra assistance. The Idol-Makers The end of the television season in May included the usual array of cliffhangers on shows like "Alias," the departure of Noah Wylie from "ER" and the finale of the highly-rated "Everybody Loves Raymond" after 210 episodes. On the last day of "Sweeps," more than 29 million people tuned in to see the crowning of the fourth "American Idol." How To Own A Business... Instead Of A Job Every business is run by someone who took on a risk with their time and money. So I believe that person should be rewarded. Too often as business owners we forget to enjoy ourselves. We forget that we deserve to be paid far more than any of our team. Creativity and Innovation Management ? Hierarchies Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation. Bar Charts Brought to Life: Index of Interactive Information for HTML and PDF Bar Charts and the Information Challenge Dont Get Caught With Your PR Down Why risk the embarassment when with a little basic PR training, you as a business, non-profit or association manager can always be ready for battle? Morale Boosters: Feed the Troops First When economic conditions turn tough or when the heavy work load seems never-ending, leaders tend to forget the "basics"?building commitment beyond the paycheck. It's the small things everyday that can bring down morale and it's the small things everyday that can raise performance. A holiday party or picnic once or twice a year probably won't do it. Rather, it's a leader's sincere recognition that employees are assets to be valued, not tools to be used up and discarded. Here are quick ways too boost morale. 10 Ways New Managers Become Great Leaders "It is a terrible thing to look over your shoulder when you are trying to lead and find no one there." - Franklin D. Roosevelt 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. What Every Manager Should Know About How to Enhance the Motivational Climate of the Workplace It has been well documented that employees' productivity and job quality increase when we are made to feel welcomed at work. In other words, when the motivational climate is enhanced to meet their needs they produce quality work at the 100% rate. OJT - On The Job Training Introduction Look Good on Voice Mail Your use of voice mail tells others a lot about you. Here's how to make a good impression. What is the Most Difficult Part of an Improvement Program? Answer: Starting one.
|
| © Athifea Distribution LLC - 2013 |
