In terms of properly running a business, owners must be cognizant of the fact that their messages to consumers must resonate.
For example, do you and your employees send the right messages to customers when contacting them or responding to their inquiries? If the answer is not always yes, you run the risk of losing some of them. While you may think losing a few here and there is not the end of the world, those numbers can add up rather quickly.
With that in mind, what is your company’s message and its potential heading into 2017?
Is it one of optimism or pessimism? Is it a message that you have spent a fair amount of time on or crafted rather quickly? Lastly, is it one you believe will be received with open arms or skepticism?
In speaking about the potential for your business in 2017 and beyond, make sure your message is heard loud and clear.
Reaching Out for Help
While you may be watching your budget like a hawk, don’t automatically turn down an opportunity to spend some money learning from others.
There are countless fine examples out there of individuals willing to spread some of their business knowledge, knowledge that might be just what you are looking for.
Whether you turn to someone such as Chris Gardner or any number of others with business savvy and insight on making a company tick, you’ll likely be well-served.
Even though some business owners may think they know all there is to know in running a company, can they ever have too much knowledge? The answer to that question is a resounding no.
In order for your business to grow, don’t hesitate on having someone with myriad of life experiences (notably in the business world or how they got there) to talk to you and your employees. These speakers may appear at a networking event (conference, trade show etc.) that you are hosting. They might also come right to your company’s corporate headquarters and speak directly to your entire staff. Either way, being a good listener and learning from such experiences will only benefit your company now and down the road.
Convey Winning Message to Customers
Once you have sat down and truly listened to one or more individuals with life experiences beneficial to your business apply some of those lessons to your operation.
For example, maybe you’ve heard from someone who was actually homeless for a period of time in their lives, yet now they are a successful business owner and/or philanthropist. If so, they likely have an interesting experience to share with both you and your staff.
Listen carefully on how they got from point A to point B.
Did they rely on others for help? Were they at one time a business owner themselves? Did the collapse of their business lead them to despair and wondering where life’s next journey would take them? By learning some of the practices they used to pull themselves up again, you might very well be able to apply those methods to your own business story.
With the message in-hand, you can then convey that story to your customers.
One of the ways to do this is by showing them that you started your company from scratch, yet have now risen to a successful player in the business world. Although there certainly are some corporate giants in today’s business world that had very humble beginnings, many smaller companies have even more compelling tales to tell. If you are one of them, make sure that message is told over and over again.
Carrying on a Winning Business Tradition
At the end of the day, the success of your business depends on myriad of factors.
From how much time and effort you dedicate to your business and customers to your overall business reputation, there are many areas of attention.
Take the time to address those areas, especially when it comes to the potential your business has in 2017 and far beyond.