"Professionalizing" Your Business:
You have been in business for a number of years. The business has gone from infancy to some level of maturity and as a serious business owner, you are always looking for ways to improve your business, so you decide to seek an outside opinion. Talking with business associates, you solicit referrals for a business consultant. Based on the information you received from your associates, you arrange a meeting with a consultant. One of your goals in having this discussion is to get a fresh perspective and perhaps a few recommendations to enable you to improve the business. The consultant suggests an assessment of the business, using the results as a point of reference for further discussions. The assessment is completed and you are eager to hear the interpretation. Will the recommendation be to increase marketing, open a second location, remodel the physical plant, expand the product/service lines? "What do you mean, my business needs professionalizing?" Of course my business is professional! We produce quality products and deliver quality services! We have satisfied customers! What are you implying? Before dismissing the idea, consider what "professionalizing" your business means. In professionalizing a business, simple methods are developed and implemented to make the daily decision making process more effective, to maximize your employees' potential to create a continuous improvement atmosphere and ultimately, to prepare for where the business needs to go next. There are a number of actions you can take to professionalize your business. To begin with, evaluate what meetings you regularly have with key employees. Always set an agenda and post it prior to the meeting. A predetermined agenda reduces the possibility of the meeting going off on a tangent, creates a structure for effective discussion and keeps the meeting within the designated time frame. Use a board or flip chart to write down the information generated during the discussion. This will facilitate better communication. Have someone, other than you; be responsible for taking notes. Record any decisions made, due dates, accountability benchmarks, etc. and distribute copies to the appropriate employees. Develop reasonable documentation. "Reasonable" is any documentation that empowers employees to make decisions or problem solve, without coming to you every time something is not working. Written procedures are essential for all critical job functions. Additionally, written trouble shooting processes for problem solving equipment malfunctions or administrative functions can create independent decision making and make employees more efficient. Another action you can take is training your employees in group skills: brainstorming, setting priorities, defining alternatives, establishing criteria for decision making and handling conflict. These skills are vital to the future of your company. They create a work environment that fosters teamwork and encourages employees to see the big picture. There are numerous ways to professionalize your business. I have suggested just a few. Remember that every effort you make towards professionalizing your business will positively impact the bottomline. The most important step is to recognize the value and then take action. ©2000-present Flight Unlimited - All Rights Reserved |
