Over the past couple of years, many business owners and leaders have had to make some tough choices. Many of them have recurring issues that have demanded constant attention. We are creatures of habit and so this repetition can easily morph into what we feel is the norm. It’s safe to say that the last two years is not the norm we want to see in our businesses. The last thing we want as part of our business strategy is to have the dynamics of survival mode calling the shots.
We have been focusing on how to do things from the bare minimum as a way to stay afloat in difficult times. Trim back here, a bit of re-organization there. It seems like the right thing to do, but where does that end? I bet many of you reading this post have begun to see every area of your business (or at least most of the areas) through the filter of “How can I make this cost less?” “How can I improve the profit on that?” or “How can I spread out responsibility among less staff?”
Those are nice fiscal questions, but it has nothing to do with strategy. Still, many of us are rolling along letting this become our strategy. This develops a scarcity mindset and your business will suffer for it. It will affect how you treat your employees and your clients. There is a belief that there isn’t enough to go around, so everyone has to be willing to take less. This belief also assumes that everything you have to give costs money and that is where we lose our footing as business owners and leaders.
As we move into 2011 it’s important for us to adjust our strategy through adjusting our mindset. What should this new strategy be? In a word…service. I’m not talking about the obligatory “please” and “thank you” when you answer the phone. I’m talking about aligning your business in such a way that it serves the needs of those whom your business touches. That includes your employees. It means developing an abundance mindset.
Have you lost touch with the needs of your customers over the past couple of years? If you haven’t pro-actively been seeking out those needs, chances are you have. If your needs have changed over that time, there is a significant chance that so has your customers’ needs. The company that understands and meets those needs will get more sales. Period. It’s business 101, but the survival mode strategy has given us amnesia.
Have you even had any conversations with your employees to understand their needs throughout this time? What can you do to meet those needs? You would be surprised how much more teamwork people are willing to offer if they know it’s about meeting a need of a colleague. Why? Because they may have a need too and they don’t have to worry about their job being on the line in order to take care of it.
As business owners and leaders, we have an amazing opportunity to allow serving others in a way that shows we understand and want to meet their needs to become our business strategy. Market distinction is important and your product/service has to help carve out your place in the marketplace, but don’t ignore the power of truly serving others. It is what can put you heads and shoulders above your competition. Chances are they are in survival mode too and they may not be reading this blog series.
If you’re not sure where to start, begin with your employees. How you treat your employees is how they will treat your customers when you’re not around. Do surveys on your website and social media platforms. Engage with your customer base and find out their needs with respect to your product or service. Let abundance rule the day. Abundance isn’t always financial. There can be an abundance of fun. Perhaps what your company needs is an abundance of collaboration so that your employees feel they have a voice. If they have an idea to make their job easier, consider it. They know there isn’t a heap of cash floating around. Trust them.
If you sit back and step away from the current habitual day-to-day, I’m confident you could find a number of ways to see things with an abundance mentality. I bet you have had a few ideas while reading this post on how you can inject the act of truly serving your employees and customers as a part of your 2011 business strategy. Get creative and get moving. 2011 is your year to make things happen with more purpose and distinction!
What are some ways you can adopt a serving business strategy?