While many companies talk about customer focus, the reality is that even some of the most sophisticated have scant knowledge of their customer and prospect base. But the most successful companies regularly probe the customer psyche in an effort to understand what drives buying behavior.
The downside of more people in the mix means it's harder to alter consensus, once it builds. As an owner or manager of a company, there are things you can do to make sure you hear all sides before making a decision for the company you'll regret.
Karna Small Bodman, former Deputy Press Secretary for Ronald Reagan, discusses internal and external communication strategies, as well as her 6 years in The Reagan White House.
Negotiating is really about setting expectations, being open to a mutually beneficial resolution and understanding that the best time to negotiate is before a problem or issue occurs. While this may feel uncomfortable, and even confrontational, it will reduce the challenging end-of-job “negotiations” that we all have experienced.
Whether you should take a discount is totally dependent on the terms of the discount, your cost of borrowing, and plugging the numbers into the formula.
The trend toward greener living and the emphasis on energy and sustainability isn’t going away. Becoming a green contractor, in many ways, is a change in business strategy. You have to transform yourself into a green consultant and take the lead in educating your customers about energy efficient systems and …
Outlining a plan and a vision of where you want to go is critical to the success of your organization. However, it is key to make it a living, breathing document to be used frequently.
Investing in building a team of dependable personnel, offering a reliable product, and performing your services in a consistently trustworthy way will quickly separate you from competition.
Look into the market - outside of the industry, talk with customers and industry experts, and form an opinion as to where you must improve or change to stay ahead of the evolutionary curve.
Robert Jackson, partner at Jackson, Dieken & Associates, a full-service insurance agency, discusses his experience as a pro football player, running an effective insurance business and applying team-based principles.
Communities everywhere have projects and needs that require support beyond what tax dollars can fund. Businesses have the opportunity to make contributions in time, resources, people and money to support organizations that add value and life to the community in which the business is located.
