Tips for Delegating with Success

Tips for Delegating with Success

Save yourself time and develop the skills of your team!

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Written by Anthony Davis

Marketing Strategies

 Twelve  marketing strategies on which to focus your attention:

1. Identify the people and businesses who best suit your product or service offerings;
2. Determine how you can gain their attention and be noticed;
3. Create ways to stay front-of-mind with them;
4. Be different to those competing for attention from those same people and businesses;
5. Know your numbers for your existing and new clients over the last 12 months;
6. Set your sales targets for the coming 12 months;
7. Set your sales targets for repeat business in the next 12 months;
8. Set your sales targets for new business in the next 12 months;
9. Know your minimum acceptable sales revenue amount for the next 12 months;
10. Establish your marketing activities to achieve these targets;
11. Establish your expense budget for these marketing activities;
12. Now, develop the “buzz” and excitement about your products and services for your clients.

Written by Anthony Davis

Rules of Leadership

In Colin Powell’s memoir It Worked For Me: In Life and Leadership he lists his 13 Rules of Leadership …

1. It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning. This is attitude, not prediction
2. Get mad, then get over it. Get over it quickly and never lose control of yourself.
3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it. Your position was faulty not your ego.
4. It can be done! Don't surround yourself with skeptics.
5. Be careful what you choose.  You may get it.
6. Don't let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision. Superior Leaderships is a matter of superb instinct.
7. You can't make someone else's choices. Don’t let someone else make yours.
8. Check small things. Success ultimately rests on small things.
9. Share credit. People need recognition and a sense of worth.
10. Remain calm. Be kind.  Kindness, calmness, reassures followers.
11. Have a vision. Purpose is the destination of a vision.
12. Don't take counsel of your fears or naysayers. Fear is a normal human emotion.
13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

Written by Anthony Davis

Who I Need To Be ...

There is a common thread in business owners who are struggling to build their desired business.  

Many look to improving the procedures they use, or the goals they set.  While these may provide some help, a major shift often comes down to answering this question: “What kind of person do I need to be?” 

Answering this question is often difficult to do on your own.  A coach or mentor can assist to get you very clear on who you need to ‘become’ to achieve your ideal business. 

You start with Goal setting  which relies on you first becoming crystal clear on what values, characteristics, qualities and talents you will need to achieve these goals.  Often, you can model others who have achieved what you are seeking. 

The next step is to get serious and analyse where you currently are.   Then your coach can help you close the gap between the two.  By becoming the type of person you need to be, your ability to attract the circumstances and events that will allow you to move forward toward your goals will be ultimately enhanced.


Written by Anthony Davis

Change Management in Business

Have you ever tried to change a system or procedure in your business and found resistance? 

For example, when considering any new system, others involved may often think, “It’s too hard” or “I can’t do that”.  Sometimes the new system or procedure never ends up being implemented because the one ‘trying’ to make the changes gives up ‘trying’.

If you believe that the change is worthwhile and feel strongly about it, it is important to remember what has to happen to shift someone’s way of thinking:

“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident”.Arthur Schopenhauer  

This equally applies to a change that has to happen in any business.

Sometimes the potential change is given up on too soon because the ridicule and opposition from those concerned is too strong. Obtaining ‘buy-in’ from your team can reduce the opposition. 


Written by Anthony Davis

Huddles for a Motivated Team

All great Teams “Huddle” before their game. It sets the tone, checks-in with each other’s energy levels, and makes sure everyone knows what needs to happen for the game to be successful. 

 Could your team benefit from a daily Huddle? Here is an example. You prepare an agenda like this one:

1. An inspirational quote or short story.  Raises the tone and makes everyone realize why they are here and what they do.

2. Affirmations.  A short statement that starts with “I am….”

“I am fired up and ready to go.”

“I am here to serve.”

3. Goal for the day.  Everybody has one ... positively stated.

“My goal is to connect with everyone who comes in today.”

“My goal is to tidy my desk.”

4. Review the appointment book.  Look over the day.

Who is coming in & any specific attention?

5. Today I am going to …

“Today, I am going to move 10% faster.” 

Make sure your Huddles are structured, regular, short, uplifting and get everyone on the same page, to raise their endorphins and create a massive amount of synergy.

If you already "huddle" at your business, please tell us how you do it.

Written by Anthony Davis

How You Can Be Lucky In Business

How would you explain or describe 'chance' or 'luck' in Business?  Often you hear stories of people who got a 'chance in a million' or the actor who got a 'lucky break' ... 

As you sit reading this weekly business boost, literally thousands of opportunities are passing you by, most of which, you are blissfully unaware.  So is 'luck' being in the right place at the right time?  

It is your PREPARATION (business planning) that positions your business to be in the 'right place' at the right time.  With the correct amount of preparation (planning) you will be perfectly positioned to take advantage of the appropriate OPPORTUNITIES as they present themselves.  

It is when your Preparation reveals the appropriate Opportunities for you, of which you can take advantage, that others will say that you were 'lucky'! 

Consider also that it is your Preparation, your openness to opportunities and your willingness to see them for what they are, that will have you making your own ‘luck’.  

To prepare you for all the luck you could ever want, read some of the Miracle Stories atwww.expectamiracle.com. 

Additionally, your preparation could include this 15-minute webinar that will assist you to banish overwhelm  at http://banishoverwhelmforever.com.au/anthony/

Written by Anthony Davis

Leadership Mindset

Do You Have a Leadership Mindset?
According to Eric Harvey and Steve Ventura authors of the book, “The 10 Commandments of Leadership”, these are the 10 points crucial in developing a Leadership Mindset: 


1. Make What Matters Really Matter
Hold everyone accountable for bringing your Mission to life.
2. Practice What You Preach
Be a role model for honesty, integrity, and walking the walk.
3. Communicate with Care and Conviction
Share what you know. Be considerate, confident and listen respectfully.
4. Create the Involvement You Seek
Provide meaningful opportunities for all to participate.
5. Do Right by Those Who Do Right
Acknowledge all who meet or exceed the established expectations.
6. Provide What They Need to Succeed
Ensure team members have the tools, training, and support necessary to do their best work.
7. Confront Challenges with Courage
Face difficult situations directly. Do what you know needs to be done.
8. Let Differences Become Your Direction
Appreciate the uniqueness of team members who move beyond the status quo.
9. Strive to Serve Others
Use your knowledge and skills for the betterment of all.  Ultimate leverage is through others.
10. Go Forth and Prosper
Build a lasting legacy. Accept that your ultimate purpose is to help everyone become successful.

Written by Anthony Davis

Performance Appraisals - Feared or Fabulous

Performance Appraisals are designed to reinforce the desired Corporate Culture of your organisation.  They are all about getting people ‘up to speed’.  They are the systematic evaluation of the performance of employees, to understand the abilities of that person for further growth and development. 

If Performance Appraisals have such fabulous benefits, why then are they feared by Employer and Employee alike? 


Performance Appraisals can be done with the following objectives in mind. To:

• Identify the strengths and weaknesses of employees to place the right person on the right job;
• Maintain and assess the potential of a person for further growth and development;
• Provide feedback to employees regarding their performance and related status;
• Serve as a basis for influencing working habits of employees.

Performance Appraisals should be completed twice a year.  Select two months that are normally quieter in your business.  Often we find January/February and then July/August as the best but that depends on your industry and the way your business operates.  New employees should be appraised regularly during their probation period … getting them up to speed! 


Written by Anthony Davis

Business Networking ... take it up ONE level

Business Networking ...

Take it up ONE level!

This blog has a new home. Click the Business Networking link to read more.

12 Strategies to Jumpstart Your Productivity

Do you want to end each day feeling like you've accomplished everything you set out to do? Here are 12 strategies to boost your output exponentially:

1. Set productivity targets – be clear of the outcomes you want;
2. Maintain a work environment conducive to productivity - you will be more inspired to produce;
3. Have an organized workspace – you will be more productive;
4. Put first things first - important things first;
5. Time box your tasks - within fixed time slots;
6. Have a separate list for incoming tasks - urgent first then new ones and others second;
7. Upgrade your skills – address your skill limitations;
8. Know your motivation triggers - the times when you felt inspired - integrate them into your daily life;
9. Utilize time pockets – fill in the small gaps of time, waiting for buses, waiting for appointments. Have some ready activities for these;
10. Hold yourself accountable – tracking your progress is essential to know how you are doing;
11. Wake up early – start ahead, stay ahead;
12. Remember to Rest – quality not quantity.

 Source: Lifehack 

Value of Information

Valued information is any statistic that is available in your business that you 'value sufficiently' to trust and against which you make business decisions.  Many businesses get a monthly Profit & Loss and yet if there are no budgets against which to measure the month's performance, then what is the value of the information?  We estimate that less than 5% of owner managed businesses have any form of budgeting procedures. 

Then there are the other measures of performance that the P&L doesn't immediately reveal.  Things like conversion rates, production measures, stock turns, wastage and reworks, absenteeism and so the list goes on.  These are known as Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) and will vary from business to business.  What are yours?  Do you have budgets for them? Do you analyse them regularly to support the people in your business to make the correct decisions. 

Valued Information is the difference between an 'owner or family managed' business and a 'professionally managed' business?

Simply stated, it is the difference between the reliance on 'gut feel' and the availability and use of 'valued information' in making decisions to guide the business.

Wealth Attitude

Do you have a Wealth Attitude?  I am often amazed when I hear people say “I am not in it for the money!”  It is one of the reasons many go into business and yet Wealth and money are not exactly the same.  Wealth comes in a multitude of forms.  What does Wealth mean to you? 

Wealth creation begins with the correct mindset and attitude.  Follow these tips to point yourself in the right direction. Get started today! 

1.  Write down all that you are grateful for in your life right now - read it every day.
2.  Make a decision that wealth will be yours. Affirm that decision every day and confirm that decision by taking action in that direction.
3.  Surround yourself with people who are where you want to be financially – people who will ask more of you than you do!
4.  Read and listen to material that will support your new outlook and attitude about what’s possible – learn something new every day. Knowledge is Wealth.
5.  Teach others the attitudes of wealth. As you teach it, you will learn it.
         
Adapted from an article in Success magazine. 

If you would like to ‘share’ your Wealth Attitude, we will collate a series of responses to share in the future.  As you share them you teach others … see step 5. above!.

Business By Design

This is a model to support you to achieve the results you desire in business.  It is all about creating a Business "by Design" as opposed to "by default" which is the way most small businesses are created.  


In an "Ideal World" each of these Phases would happen sequentially.  Unfortunately, you live in a "Business as Usual" world and so you will most likely experience these Phases concurrently.  

Phase 1:   Develop your Mission Statement from your Vision, Unique Selling Proposition, and Purpose for being in business.

Phase 2:   Define the context in which you conduct business, together with the qualities of your
                  customers, suppliers and team.

Phase 3:   Define the Structural and Functional components of your organisation, together with
                  the Objectives and Goals to realise the Vision of your business.

Phase 4:   Identify the activities necessary to do business - systems and task descriptions.

Phase 5:   Match your people to the tasks that need to be done - recruitment.

Phase 6:   Have fun in your business, at the level you want to play, as it grows "by design" ...
                  and remember to regularly review your business.

Recreation & Re-creation

How much time do you take off from your business each year?  It is always surprising to find clients who say, “I haven’t had a holiday in 12 years (or some other number).” 


Worse even for the Business Owner with a young family.  The kids grow up all too quickly and are soon gone from your life.  What about your loyal employees?  Do they take their holidays on a regular basis? 

Recreation Time is vital for recharging your batteries and clearing your head. It amazes me that business owners almost consider it a ‘badge of honour’ to not take holidays.  Start planning your next holiday NOW! 

Look at the word 'Recreation' in a different way ... 
With a hyphen added to the word Recreation you get Re-creation.  This is totally different and yet just as important for success in your business.  Re-creation is the process of taking apart that which exists, reviewing how well it operates, refining the process and putting it back together so that the process has been re-created. 

If all of the Systems of your business are ‘re-created’ once a year, this becomes the system of regularly working ON your business.

What Makes Your Business Stand Out?

Trainer and author Jeffrey Gitomer tells this story about his first trip to Hawaii: 


“Seven hours in a plane makes for a weary traveller. I was met at the airport with the traditional lei of flowers. Fantasy fulfilled.  Gritty from the plane ride, I entered the lobby of the Hawaii Prince Hotel. At the desk, someone smiled at me, said “aloha!” and gave me a hot steamed washcloth. Aah! Just the refreshment and revitalization I needed. 

WOW, what a great way to greet a customer. What a welcome! 

Other than the price of the room, the lobby, and a few knick-knacks, very little separates hotel rooms. A hot washcloth stopped me in my tracks. It was a surprise, an unexpected moment of pleasure, something small that separated the Hawaii Prince from all other hundreds of hotels I have stayed in.” 


What separates you from your competition?
What standards are you setting?
What makes people talk about you?
What makes people look forward to doing business with you?
What makes people tell others about your business?
What is your hot steamed washcloth? 

 If you have a ‘hot steamed washcloth’ in your business, post on our page and tell us what it is ! 


Thanks to the team at Powerful Practices for this timely reminder.

Craftsmanship for Living

In his book ‘The Craftsman’, Richard Sennett traces the history of the craftsman in society, from the earliest days of weaving to the present.  


One of his arguments is that in the current business world, our pre-occupation with production, process and performance targets diminishes not only our working lives but also our individual growth and our happiness. He argues it would benefit us all if we looked on our work more from the perspective of the craftsman, and sought to do a job well, for its own sake, not just the commercial value. 

Put simply, we would all benefit from the pursuit of excellence by making things well and continuing to develop our skills through repetition of quality. Craftsmanship should be a template for living. Those who take this approach to their life and their work are better placed to produce work of quality and significance. 

It reminds me of what Edwards Deming said in his book ‘Out of Crisis’.  In his ‘14 Points for Management’ he said “remove barriers that rob people of pride of workmanship”.  How well do you reward craftsmanship in your business? 

Thanks to Richard Allen for this Weekly Minute. 

For more information on Deming’s 14 Points for Management, send an email to bizplan@brightwater.com.au with DEMING in the subject line.

Sending Cards

FACT: People are more likely to use you if they remember you. People are more likely to remember you if you remember them and you make them feel important.


FACT: E-mails get deleted. Cards with photos in them get saved and displayed. 

On Monday, you need a car mechanic … if someone from a local mechanic had been sending you 2 personal cards per year, you would call them.  Do you get the picture? 

No one does this. Probably fewer than 1 out of 250 business people send cards expressing appreciation for their customer’s business. 
  
Joe Girard was honored with a Guinness World Record for selling more cars than any single person in history, 12 times achieving the top vehicle sales in the world. In his best year he sold 1425 units, all retail (no fleet sales). 

His secret weapon? Greeting cards.  
Employing two assistants, Joe sent out nearly 13,000 greeting cards a month to his customers, celebrating everything from Halloween to Groundhog Day. 

Joe Girard proved that greeting cards inspire customer loyalty. Joe proved that greeting cards motivate customers to refer their friends.  

For more information ‘Google’ Joe Girard. 

If you would like the complete article, email bizplan@brightwater.com.au with CARDS in the subject line.

In Time - V- Through Time

Are you an ‘on time’ person or always late?  The way we relate to the dimension of time is neurologically wired.  

‘In’ time people get wrapped up in the moment. They may not notice the passing of time.  They often underestimate the time it takes to get from A to B and never prepare for unexpected delays.  They are frequently late and don’t understand why others get annoyed.  

‘Through’ time people tend to be very organised and love planning. They are usually early and get agitated when others are late. They tend to live in the future and don’t always pay attention to what is happening in front of their eyes.  

Sometimes they need to learn from ‘In’ time people regarding relaxing and ‘smelling the roses’. They are more likely to suffer from stress related illness – perhaps caused by ‘In’ time people! 

‘In’ time people can teach ‘Through’ time people to relax and enjoy each moment. ‘Through’ time people can help ‘In’ time people to organise and plan. 

In business hours – act from ‘Through’ time. Outside of business hours be more ‘In’ time.

Source: Bill Lee Emery.  If you would like Bill's full article, email bizplan@brightwater.com.au with IN TIME in the subject line.

Running Late

Chronic lateness is like an illness, beginning with a few symptoms that grow into a full-blown sickness. It starts with meeting friends 20 minutes late and before you know it, you're sneaking in the back door of the conference room and apologising to your staff.

A 2006 survey identified that American CEO’s are late to eight out of every ten meetings, resulting in $90 billion in lost productivity.

Lateness is a difficult habit to break. It takes more than setting the clocks 10 minutes fast … it doesn’t work.  Stop making excuses and start managing what you do with your time.

1. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early;  
2. Be realistic when estimating the time a task will take;
3. Stay organized. Not having to look for your keys gets you out the door on time;
4. Block off a period of the day for time-consuming tasks;
5. Work ahead of deadlines. When you get an assignment, start immediately.

How often do you keep your clients waiting?  Remember, your client’s time is as valuable as yours. Honour your clients and they will Honour you.

Thanks to the team at Powerful Practices for this Minute

Weekly Minute 59 - Owners, Shareholders, Directors etc

 An understanding of the levels of ownership and responsibility is absolutely critical when two or more technicians get together to build a business.  It is also important when the founding owner wants to implement Succession or Secession Planning.  In small business, owners usually play all four roles. 
As a Shareholder (Owner) of any corporation, large or small, your ownership only allows you the right to vote at Meetings (General or Special) at the level reflected by your shareholding.  Your return for risk as an Owner is a share of the profits of the business. 

You have the right to vote to elect the Directors.  These are people you trust to maximise the return you get from your investment in the business.  Often the information needed to make decisions and recommendations are passed to the Board of Directors by the management team.  

In Partnerships, Partners share the Owner/ Director responsibilities and share the profits of the business as their reward for both their risk and their effort. As a business Owner you make your decisions about the direction of the business as Director/Partner, not as an Owner.   

The other two levels are: Managers and Workers.

Weekly Minute 58 - Employee Selection System

The employment process can prove to be a minefield!  There are many different pieces of legislation that could impact on the relationship with employees.  All relationships with People should be structured and documented to minimise your risk.


Before you advertise you must create a Written Role Description, Define an Ideal Personnel Profile, Define the Terms and Conditions of Employment, Create an Advertisement, Define Specific Tasks to assess skill and attitude level at second and third level screening.

Next use a four step screen/interview/offer process.  With Internet advertisements (eg Seek) you can use an on-line screening process before you get to the interview round.

You need your: Mission Statement; Code of Conduct; Role Description; Screening Questionnaire to identify if they have the ability to follow instructions and move to the second round.  The second round Screening Questionnaire more deeply analyses their suitability.

Next the Interview round with a specific set of questions to ask the interview shortlist.  Finally there is the Offer of Employment.  You will need: Terms and Conditions of Employment; Employment Agreement; Documented Induction System; Employee Manual and Your Performance Appraisal System.

Need help?  Phone Brightwater on 1800 242 366.  We can introduce you to highly skilled practitioners who can assist you with many of these HR aspects.

Key Performance Indicators - KPIs

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

This blog has a new home. Click on the link to read more on Key Performance Indicators.

Weekly Minute 56 - What You Measure You Manage

What you Measure You Manage and what You Manage Improves. This is a positive spin on the old adage 'if you don't measure it, you can't manage it'.

Often in Businesses we see this expression being reversed.  Without ‘Valued Information’ owners and managers are ‘flying blind’.  Take the client with $500,000 in the bank wanting to Franchise his business.  Having failed to get up-to-date financials for over three years, the end result was a huge Tax bill, the remainder in deposits held for work not started and a business sent into Receivership all because of no valued information.

One area that is often poorly measured and therefore badly managed is the area of Man Hours, Labour, Time; call it what you will.  The irony is that this is often the area of greatest expenditure.
Once a business starts to measure and manage this area of their business, productivity increases and the returns to the owner/s improve. Another expression to remember in relation to people’s performance is, “If you tell me how I will be measured, then I will show you how I will perform!”

The Power of Customer Testimonials

The Power of Customer Testimonials ...

What others say about your business, ,matters!

This blog has a new home.  Click the link to learn about The Power of Cutomer Testimonials

Stock Control

Inventory Management ... a lesson in Stock Control!

This blog has a new home. Click on the link to learn more about Stock Control.

Minute 53 - Scripts for Marketing

Scripts for everything you do in your business and most importantly Scripts for Marketing.  Scripts are simply the documented Conversation Systems for your Business.

Perhaps the most important Script is the one that establishes your initial relationship with a New Client.  Consider that, "You only get one chance to make a good first impression!"

Whether it is face-to-face or over the phone, scripts will ensure that your team will all do it the same way.  In retail a great question to ask is "Hi, have you been in here before?"  It leads to two options, "yes" or "no".  For either option you need a script and training (role playing) to ensure your clients get 'consistency' in their interaction with your business.

If your future customer's first contact with your business is by phone, then your 'phone script' must be designed and practiced so that your new customer can hear the smile in your voice.

Consider McDonald's script "Would you like fries with that?"  This instantly increased the value of every sale.  What Marketing Scripts can you use in your business?

Product Groups and Product Streams

Product Groups and Product Streams

This blog has a new home. Click the link to learn about Product Groups and Product Streams.

Building Great, Effective Team Culture

Building Great, Effective Team Culture

This blog has a new home. Click the link to about Building Great Effective Team Culture.

Logical Levels Business Model

Logical Levels Business Model

This blog has a new home. Click the link to learn more about the Logical Levels Business Model.

Ladder of Knowledge

Ladder of Knowledge ...

the only way is up!

This blog has a new home. Click the link to learn more about the Business Ladder of Knowledge.