Social Networking | Action CalTeam

by Peter Williamson

All business owners have challenges. Here are some that can make or break a business and what one can do to ensure success . . .

Change: One would think that a small business could change quickly, if need be, but that is seldom the case. One, as humans we are creatures of habit and will sometimes stick to something we know not because it is the best solution, but because it’s familiar to us. Change involves risk and risk involves confidence. Confidence in oneself may be shattered if one’s business is faltering, so it’s important to find mentors that can give you the advice and strategies you truly need to succeed without worry that they have a hidden agenda.

Hiring: Okay, so you know you are a great company and that a great company should be able to attract great employees, but if you’re a small business, it’s hard to compete with the larger corporations that offer full benefits and perhaps larger paychecks. So, how can you compete? The answer is in looking closely at what you have to offer your future employees. Will they have a better chance at promotions in a smaller company? Will they have access to more hands-on training? Are they in a culture that’s supportive and attractive? Have you created a work environment that will attract the very people you want to work for you? Create an environment that you like coming to, and they will, too.

Asking: Believe it or not, asking for help is one of the top challenges facing owners of small businesses. If you’re struggling, then asking for help feels like you are inadequate and unable to keep your business afloat. But, the fact is that those business owners who recognize that they need help and set their egos aside long enough to get competent coaching excel not only as individuals, but as a company. The challenge in asking is in knowing what to ask for, and when to ask for it. That’s where a coach can help.

Leadership: As business owners, we are good at something. We must be. We own businesses! That’s no small task, but what tends to happen in ANY industry is that we may be good at some things and less strong in others. Maybe, for instance, we can crunch numbers right up there with the best accountants, but we can’t manage a team to save our lives. Leading by example is common advice for business owners and managers, but if you don’t know how to do something then you may just lead your team down the wrong path. The solution? Put a team together that can most complement one other, even you. Respect and reward those working with you for skills they possess that you may not have, and if they are struggling in an area that you have strength in, build their skills in those areas so that they may be strong leaders as well.

Leads: Any business owner that is worth his or her salt will recognize that nothing sells itself. Effective lead generation is possible through better advertising, having a proven and successful system in place, and turning promising leads into loyal customers. Know the: who, what, where, when, and why of your advertising campaigns to maximize the impact of its success. Who is your target market, what is your promise to your potential customer, where is the best place to place your ad for maximum exposure, when is the best time to run the ad, why should someone choose you over some other product or service? Answering these simple questions will put you on the right path to generating instant leads.

Employees: Hiring the right people is only the first challenge. Perhaps more important is what to do once you’ve hired them in terms of training. Oftentimes, small businesses fail because they have no training programs in place for incoming (and existing!) employees. Today’s environment is fast-paced and ever-changing with new technology constantly present. Offering training is not only vital to your company’s growth and well being, it’s vital to your team. Think of training like food. If you don’t feed your staff, they’ll wither away and perish! If you don’t have training tools in place, consider ways you can establish some training and define what, exactly, you want your employees to learn. Or ask them what they want help with. You might be surprised at their answers!

Networking: Small business owners share a challenge with large corporations with regards to networking. As a matter of fact, they share many challenges, including security and privacy issues, effective lead generation, lack of effective metrics and measurement strategies to monitor and track results, time constraints – the list goes on. The key is selecting the networking venues that will effectively and efficiently market and promote your services. You might have a terrific blog, but if you can’t get anyone to link or click on it, it’s useless.

Goals: Sometimes business owners have what are called “misplaced goals”. They THINK one thing is their goal, when in fact it their focus and attention should be somewhere else. Think of it like someone who’s unhappy and they blame something for their unhappiness, when in fact their mood is really a result of something else. Goal-setting is imperative in business. They key is to have both short-term and long-term goals. Some business owners are highly skilled at seeing the “whole” picture, but miss all the important smaller “parts” that will eventually make up that larger picture. Others are great at seeing the “small parts” necessary to carry on day-to-day business but have no real visions for the future and the growth of their companies. Ask yourself what your ultimate vision for your company is, then try setting smaller, reachable goals that can be the stepping stones toward reaching that higher goal.

Efficiency: Owners of small- to medium-sized businesses often suffer from burnout. They try to cut costs by doing everything themselves, only to find that other areas of their lives suffer, including family relationships, sleep deprivation, increased stress and other “symptoms” of work overload. The solution? Well, for one, learn to prioritize. If you find that you are handling busy-work tasks that you could have someone else do for significantly less, delegate. If you find that you are running in circles, take a closer look at what strategies you have in place that could minimize inefficiency and stress and maximize production. What efficiency often impacts is time. Time is something you can’t get back, so learning the techniques to make time work for you rather than against you is imperative.

Sales: Selling is easy if someone wants to buy whatever it is you are promoting, right? But sales is less about the selling and more about the enthusiasm with which someone is promoting a sale. Think of it this way: When you stop trying to sell something, you start selling something. Have you ever noticed that you may have gone somewhere with no intention to buy whatever it is at the store, but a very enthusiastic sales person will convince you that you can’t live without that very thing. Then what? You buy it! To understand selling, one must understand who the seller is. Are they someone who waits for people to ask about a product or service? Are they a product pusher who talks of nothing but the product? Maybe they’re the person who asks what you need and then bends over backwards to find it for you. Or how about the person who promises the world just to get you to buy? Which one do you want working for you? Determine that and that’s who will be attracted to your company! Trust me, it works.

11 Close to Home, but Far from Ordinary Places to Meet with Clients

Meeting clients in business is natural, but where one meets can be, too! Here are some suggestions for getting out of your “space” and into places that allow you and your clients some breathing room.
Give them a Choice
Forget meeting in the office and hiding behind a desk. Instead, offer your clients a choice of unusual meeting places. You might learn something about them in their selection!
1. Let’s Walk
Meeting at a park or lake, or recreation area that has a walking path might be just the place to stretch the minds as well as the legs. It’s outdoors, natural, and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. If your walk is around water; water is calming and allows you both room to think.
2. Bookstore
Many bookstores have cafes and all bookstores have resources! Talk about a favorite book and let the conversation lead you to a deeper connection. Turn over a new leaf.
3. A Charity Event
Feel good about helping out a charity. Remember, your client is choosing, so if he or she has chosen this venue to meet, it tells you a lot about them, where their heart is, and lets you both do something for the community while working on something together.
4. Golf (or any sporting event, but golf has a quieter arena in which to share ideas than, say, a noisy baseball game)
If you play, great! If you don’t, go along for the ride. Caddy! Get out and exercise your minds while building the relationship.
5. A Health Bar
Pick a natural and healthy setting that reflects your mindset. Health bars often have waterfalls and a calming atmosphere. De-stress while stressing a strong connection.
6. A musical event
If your client chooses this option, you’ll learn a lot about the style of music he or she likes and it will give you something to reflect on at future meetings.
7. A museum
Like a library, a museum has a certain air about it that lends itself to thoughtful contemplation. View the art, express opinions, and lace in business.
8. Fish
Whether the client has fished before or never fished in his or her life, fishing is a great way to relax, get outdoors, and a great place to share ideas. Even if the client is just fishing for compliments, who cares! Have fun. Make it reel.
9. Hike
Tell your client to take a hike – only mean it in a different way. Get out in the woods. Connect with nature. Let ideas run free. You’ve got a captive audience.
10. Library
Shhhh. Guess what. Most libraries have GREAT meeting rooms that are private, quiet, and away from interruptions. Libraries are another great place (besides bookstores) to talk books, resources, and to get down to business.
11. Your place of residence
An invitation to one’s home is very personal and says to the client, I know you, trust you, and like you. The client who accepts or chooses this option feels the same.
Make it Meaningful!
Wherever you and your client decide to meet, meeting outside the office gives you and the client a good look at each other. And with no office distractions, you’ll feel more comfortable and engaged. It is not always possible to meet outside the office—after all, convenience is a temptress—but if and when the opportunity presents itself, get outside your “box” and engage. Make the encounter meaningful for both of you. Important decisions rest on the connection you make. Where you and your client decide to hold the meeting will tell each of you a lot about the other, and isn’t that what building relationships is all about?