What is a Client?

When meeting with business owners we often refer back to this mantra. There is often a disconnect and our job is to reconnect. Please read and forward to anyone who may find value in the message. We are all either a client or the one fulfilling the service or product.

 

 

 

Employee Engagement / Ford Business Consultants / January  2016

As the owner or manager of a business do you know whether you effectively engage your employee’s? Engaging with your staff equals a more productive workplace. Here are some interesting statistics for you to consider.

·         70% of owners and managers have checked off the box that says “very good” job of communicating with their staff.

·         In the same survey over 60% revealed that they do not measure the results, this means they just hope it works.

·         In the same survey 26% of employees indicated they are “not engaged” at all and this suggests that there may be a disconnect between management and the workforce.

What kind of an impact does this have on your business? Disengaged employees lose their desire to do a good job resulting in poor customer service which means lost customers, less sales, staff leaving and poor morale for those that choose to remain with your business. Employee newsletters or intranet may not be working as you had hoped. You may be using the wrong methods of communication and you need to revisit the way in which your company communicates with staff.

How to set up an engagement program in your company

Start the tried and true method of treating employees the way you treat customers, with care. Smile and be sincere when engaging staff. When is the last time you looked an employee in the eye and had a conversation or asked their opinion? You will be amazed at the good will that comes from taking a few minutes to engage! In a small operation that we work with, we set up a 15 minute get together with everyone once a week. This method is direct and keeps everyone engaged as they hear the important messages first hand. In larger operations we have suggested an app for employees to stay connected. This allows information to be tailored to different departments. Yes it can be a challenge when your workforce is spread out or working in the field. Find creative ways to communicate and engage with your staff. We often hear from companies and organizations that suffer when things go badly and someone “drops the ball”. This is a polite way of saying someone messed up. Ford Business Consultants can put tools in place to assist you in minimizing this type of event. How often do we hear in the news about a problem that festers and it always comes back to someone not doing the right thing. We often see that this comes down to lack of engagement. One of the Systems & Processes we like to see companies install is “closed loop communication”. This is a verification system that when a task was asked of an individual, notification is given when that the work was carried out.  This type of engagement works and there is no wondering if it got done. This could be email, voice mail, or a check mark and initials on a work order.

How to know if engagement works?

We have already discovered that most businesses do not measure results. Measures could be employee retention, customer service satisfaction surveys and sometimes folks it is just a gut feeling that yes we have more engagement and you feel it. Businesses that have an “engagement program” and interact with staff regularly are leaps and bounds ahead of their competition. Not only will you enjoy more market share, you attract and retain talented staff that leads to be more productivity and more profits. If we can help with this program please contact us, it costs nothing to talk.

To your success,

Ford Business Consultants

1-877-776-1059

S.W.O.T.

Business S.W.O.T. Analysis

This is a powerful business tool that allows you to take a close look at your business. All businesses have strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and yes, threats. Strengths and weaknesses are often internal to your organization. Opportunities and threats can be external factors. Let’s break each one down in manageable chunks that you can use more easily.

*STRENGTHS  

What advantages does your operation have?

What do you do better than anyone else?

What are your operations “unique selling propositions”, the secret sauce?

What do customers and competitors see as your strengths?

What factors are in your operation that means “you get the sale”?

*WEAKNESSES

What needs improvement, staff, processes, sales and marketing, cost of sales?

What are doing that you should avoid?

What have customers and competitors in your market identified as a weakness?

What factors are losing you sales?

Consider your strengths and weaknesses from both an internal perspective and from the point of view of your customers in your marketplace. Do you have some trusted customers that you have identified with whom take an extra special interest in your business? You might consider   asking them for some feedback, most people will be more than happy to give an honest opinion if you take the time to ask. How about your staff? These folks are in your operation working with your customers, why not ask for some feedback and see what you can learn.

*OPPORTUNITIES

Are there opportunities open to your company that you can spot?

What interesting trends can you identify that you can take advantage of?

Are the products or services you offer changing?

Are there changes in technology that could be helpful or maybe impact your business in a negative way?

How about any new regulations or compliance issues?

Are there any identifiable shifts in social patterns, population profiles, lifestyle changes that can help your business?

Is your business offering what the customer wants to purchase?

*THREATS

What threats do you face, what is holding you back?

Do you have any bad debt or cash flow issues?

Is ever-changing technology threatening your operation?

What are your competitors doing?

Are quality standards, specifications or expectations for your product or service changing?

Are you losing longtime customers and not enough new ones coming in?

We can all learn something when we make time and look at our business to identify what works and what does not. As a business owner or manager you can be so focused so much on the day to day workings that you miss the big picture. You know there is a mental list in your head of items in your workplace that need attention. Write them down, prioritize them and work toward the change you want and it will come about. And remember that there are no problems, only solutions that you have not found yet!  Be proactive and take charge today.

If you would like some assistance in performing a S.W.O.T Analysis on your business please call 1-877-776-1059 and ask for Richard or DeeDee @ Ford Business Consultants.

New Year, New You?

 The New Year is here and all those resolutions you made are waiting to be filled. You remember the ones about losing a few pounds and spending more time with family, ah yes. We all want to be a better person and that takes change in our attitudes and behaviors. Today is the 1st day of the rest of your life. Major life changes like losing weight, being a better parent, saving money, etc. are all worthy goals and you probably have a few more you want to tackle. 

     You might find small incremental changes in your behavior and starting slow is best for you, while others might dive in and stop the jelly donuts and calorie laden drinks in one day. Find what works for you and stick to your plan, it takes time for good habits to set in. Don’t be discouraged if you have a bad day, pick yourself up and make tomorrow a better day. Changes will only come about if you want to change yourself. No amount of coaxing will lead to the results you desire if you do not want change yourself. Your health and changing your eating and exercising habits is probably my favorite resolution because a healthy and fit you is more productive in all areas of your life.  Please consider throwing out the word “diet” you are not dieting, you are making a lifestyle change, for the better. Exercise is important, but more important is what goes into your mouth. I have heard that the percentage of attention should be 80% focused on what you eat versus 20% exercise. A moment of pleasure and those good endorphin's from eating something will long be forgotten when your blue jeans spent to “much time in the dryer” and shrunk.  A few helpful tips that have worked for me that you might consider if weight management is one of your goals.  Consider keeping a food diary. Writing down what you eat will open your eyes as to what you are consuming. Perhaps a phone app like MyFitnessPal might work for you. It records calories eaten and if you exercise it records that as well. Resolutions are nothing more than pledges waiting to be fulfilled. 

     No matter your goal whether simple or complex, you have to be the one to bring on the change for a better you in 2016! To your SUCCESS.

Focus Your Energy On What Matters To You

Getting Organized

Yikes, the end of the calendar year is near. Now is the time to make those calls, finish that project and prepare for the coming year. As 2016 closes in it is a time to reflect where you have been but more importantly where you want to go! I find the time between Christmas and New Year ’s Day is usually unscheduled time as folks are either returning un-wanted items, travelling or just plain taking some time for themselves. Start with the clutter not only on your work spaces, but your phones and tablets as well. If you have not touched that hand out you got at a seminar in April, you do not need it. It is liberating to free yourself from clutter that accumulates over the year. You might consider the acronym of TRAF when something comes across your domain. TRAF stands for TOSS, REFER, ACT, and FILE. This works and avoids the buildup of clutter. Get out your 2016 calendar and look over the months and fill in events in your life that are already scheduled, birthdays, travel and other life events. Planning is important and by using a calendar you get the big picture and that can assist in your organization. Avoid procrastination, you know you have a major project coming, why not start working on it now? Get cracking on your plan as time does not wait. Make 2016 your best year ever! To YOUR Success!

 

December 2015 Holiday, Special and Wacky Days

We wish you everything Merry and Bright. Enjoy this festive time of year! 

December 21st is Look On The Bright Side Day

 

December 23rd is Festivus

 

December 24th is Christmas Eve and National Chocolate Day

 

December 25th is Christmas Day

 

December 26th is Boxing Day

 

December 26th-Jan 1 is Happy Kwanzaa

Happy Kwanzaa