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Build the team that will run your business effectively- The Business Examiner
Saturday, March 15th 2008
All too often the cry from managers is: ‘you can’t get good people’ or ‘why can’t I get my people to do as I tell them’.
Consider the business owner who has 10 people working in the business, yet finds he or she is doing all the work. What’s the point in having employees!? To find out what’s gone wrong we have to get back to basics.
Most people in business understand how important systems are. Systems are usually essential for having a business that runs smoothly (and profitably). With systems in place, it’s simply a matter of employing people to run those systems.
Michael Gerber’s fantastic book, The E-Myth, really highlights how important systems are for businesses to be successful. A real life example of course is McDonald’s. With a food product that at best could only be described as average, it is simply a matter of systems that keep it a hugely successful entity.
The point is, if you feel like you’re banging your head up against a brick wall, take a look at the systems in your business.
Look at the most basic things from answering the phone all the way through to how you produce your product. If your systems aren’t clearly defined and easy to understand, how can anyone (read your employees) understand what you want? Preferably write them down and turn them into checklists.
This is the basic foundation of business, which, in turn, gets your people working as a team, an end result that equals more than the sum of its parts.
So, the systems have been built and are clearly defined, and now it’s a matter of recruiting the right people to run those systems. The DISC [ a popular and simple to use profiling tool ] working personality profile is one way to help select the right people for the job. With this knowledge, you can then recruit the right people for the job; however, the real challenge lies ahead.
It’s not just a matter of having people who come in, follow the system and get the job done. What you are looking for now is SYNERGY!
Synergy comes from having people who are committed to a ‘common goal’. If people are involved in setting the ‘common goal’, they are generally more likely to commit.
If you, as the business owner are dictating to your team ‘this is the goal’, don’t expect much commitment. If your team has ownership, they are much more likely to achieve.
Ownership is also very useful when designing and building your systems. Keep asking the team this question…’I’m looking for [certain outcome]. How do you think we should go about achieving that?’
The successful business owner has team members that say ‘I think we should do like this’. An unsuccessful business owner has team members that say ‘I don’t know, you’re the boss’.
Finally, be aware of what you are teaching your team. If a baby cries and its mother comes running the baby learns to let out a cry and in rushes Mum.
If you’re saying to yourself ‘no-one can do it like me’ and you jump in to do it, your team is learning from that.
As posted in The Business Examiner -Clint Best is President of KAIZEN Business Development, based in Kelowna. His company helps business owners simplify the complicated taking themselves and their business to another level. He can be reached at 250-860-0466 or e-mailed at clintbest@shaw.ca.
Why people struggle with Vision - The Business Examiner
Friday, February 15th 2008
Three men at a work site, all appearing to be performing the same tasks, were asked what they were doing.
The first man looked up without much emotion or enthusiasm and replied, “I’m laying bricks.” The next man glanced back with a bit of a scowl and replied, “I’m making $25 bucks an hour.” The last man, having an easier time with his task, seemed light hearted and happier than the other two. With a glowing smile he proudly proclaimed, “I’m building a cathedral.”
This story illustrates the difference between knowing your true purpose and not.
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in six years of business coaching has been the importance of vision, which relates directly to left brain versus right brain thinking.
The left brain controls things that are logical, like words, numbers, etc. while the right brain controls creative things like music, art, and emotions.
In business I’ve found people tend to be more left brained than right brained, or at least they think they should be. There is a tremendous advantage in tipping that scale back the other way.
Perhaps the most critical elements for attracting and retaining great employees involve right brained thinking. Sure, people need to be compensated fairly but what keeps them around is recognition, feeling they’re a part of something good, and feeling like they contribute to that.
Most of us are looking for a sense of fulfillment in what we do.
Creating the right environment to attract and retain great people begins with creating it in our minds as a vision. From a vision it becomes a goal to be achieved.
I’ve found that people struggle more than they need to with this simple activity. If we want to develop vision, we need to treat it the same way we would if we were developing our physical bodies. Feed it the right things and exercise it; schedule time to invest in it.
What makes it so tough for the many, is that they can’t bring themselves to believe their own vision.
Many people do not set goals or plan and commit to the outcomes they want because they fear failure. What keeps most people where they are is fear and self sabotage.
The answer is to practice thinking beyond what seems real in this moment. Look at your life, and or business, through a filter of abundance. Stop being an “or” person and start thinking like an “and” person. Add a zero to your sales targets and start thinking at a new level.
Vision is about creating our own reality. It is the ultimate sense of ownership.
As Stephen Covey put’s it “Everything happens twice, first in our minds and then in the tangible world”.
Vision is creating a compelling picture of the future that engages and inspires ourselves and others. It’s about defining and understanding our purpose and engaging our emotions to leverage our drive, and attract the right things and people to us.
Of course, there is a catch. Vision by itself can only be so effective.
The critical element that goes along with vision is a strong set of values, principles or ideals. These deeply held beliefs will guide you and help move you towards your vision. We all feel good when we act on our values. Most of us however, have not invested nearly enough time clarifying and understanding what’s really important to us.
If purpose is important because it explains why, then values are important because they explain how. They answer the question, “How will I behave on a day by day basis in order to achieve my purpose?”
Another common mistake is not to make enough time to vision before we attempt moving toward it. Let the picture form first, and write it down in as much detail as you can.
Are you laying bricks or building a cathedral? Remember, the bigger the vision, the smaller the obstacles appear.
As posted in The Business Examiner - Clint Best is President of KAIZEN Business Development based in Kelowna. His Company helps business owners simplify the complicated taking themselves and their business to another level. He can be reached at 250-860-0466 or e-mailed at clintbest@shaw.ca.
Harnessing the Pareto Principle when making priorities - The Business Examiner
Tuesday, November 30th 1999
There is never enough time to do everything, but always enough time to do what’s really important.
There are two things that business people find very challenging: thinking ahead and doing things in order of importance.
Doing these two things makes the difference between success in business and just surviving. And the same is true for all areas of our lives.
Leadership trainer and author John Maxwell says, “Thinking ahead and prioritizing responsibilities marks the major differences between a leader and a follower.”
Most people have heard of the Pareto Principle, more commonly known as the 80/20 Principle. Roughly stated this says that in most businesses 80% of your business comes from 20% of your customers.
Other examples of the Pareto Principle are:
Reading - 20% of the book contains 80% of the content.
Job - 20% of our work gives us 80% of our satisfaction.
Products - 20% of the products bring in 80% of the profits.
Picnic - 20% of the people will eat 80% of the food!
So… when it comes to your priorities, 20% of your priorities will give you 80% of your production IF you spend your time, energy, money and personnel on the top 20% of your priorities.
When you do this you are getting a 400% or fourfold return in productivity. Think what this would mean in your business!
Every business person needs to understand the Pareto Principle as it applies to the areas of customers, team and leadership.
In the area of customers, it is vital to identify the 20% who account for 80% of your business. These are your “raving fans” and strategies must be put in place to care for them appropriately.
For your team, you must identify the top 20% producers. Spend 80% of your people time with these people to develop them to their full potential.
In leadership, take an honest look at the question “What do I have to do that no one else can do?” Remember a leader can give up everything except final responsibility. You can decide whether you will be reactive or proactive when it comes to the use of your time. The question is not, “Will I be busy?” but “How will I invest my time?” It’s not “Will my calendar be full?,” but “Who will fill my calendar?,” It’s not “Will I see people?,” but “Who will I see?”
Do this and watch your productivity and personal satisfaction rise to new heights!
As posted in The Business Examiner - Clint Best is a Certified Business Coach and owner of KAIZEN Business Development based in Kelowna. His company helps business owners simplify the complicated taking themselves and their business to another level. He can be reached at 250-860-0466 or e-mailed at clint@kbdkelowna.com.
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Six Steps to Business Success
Wednesday, January 28th 2009
Our Six Steps to Business Success coaching model can help you increase your profits, build a high powered team, and get some of your valuable time back, so you can enjoy family and hobbies again.
At this workshop you will interact with other owners like yourself in a board room setting and discuss real strategies you can use right now, and why they are so critical in taking your business to the next level.
Many business owners like you have taken advantage of our free introductory workshop discussing the programs developed by our KAIZEN Business Development coach Clint Best.
So if getting better control of your cash flow, increasing your profits, working fewer hours, and building an amazing team are of interest to you, don’t miss this exciting opportunity.
Our Six Steps to Business Success coaching model can help you increase your profits, build a high powered team, and get some of your valuable time back, so you can enjoy family and hobbies again.
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