You have a
detailed business plan, which showed the overall intent of your
company. You presented the business plan to your bank before
start-up and they submitted funding in the amount that you both
deemed acceptable. The original business plan contained the
basis of the procedures that will help you stay focussed while
the company grows. Let's examine some of these processes that
you will use to give your business the focus it needs to grow
and succeed.
1. A marketing plan. If sales are a part of your operation (and
it seems that some form of selling is always a big part of every
company), then, you will need to have your sales group focussed
on a marketing plan. Short term and longer-term analysis should
be a part of this planning and will likely contain an analysis
of your competition, market potential and sales projections.
Be careful not to fall into the trap of letting “the business
take care of itself”, stay focussed at all times and be sure
your managers are tuned into this market monitoring regularly,
nothing is more defeating to the general manager/owner than
to be told by a sales manager…I didn't see that coming! YIKES!
2. Accounting procedures. If sales are important, then the need
to stay focussed on receiving the proceeds from sales is equally
important. Accounts payable, expenses and accounts receivable
need to have fixed procedures in place to allow money to flow
freely through the company coffers. Focussing on these procedures
at regular weekly and monthly meetings will put the accounting
and marketing groups on the same path. A rift between marketing
and accounting is a common bureaucratic occurrence; so don't
be surprised if one point you hear from someone from sales state,
“We make the money here, how come I have to live by their rules?”
Getting these two operations to stay focussed on a bottom line
results oriented approach is a regular part of an owner's job
description.
3. Human resources. If you have ever worked
for a manager, who considered his employees as expenses rather
than assets, then you will be familiar with the need for managers
to stay focussed on human resources within the company. A manager
who is fixated on staff reduction regardless of their accomplishments
will create an atmosphere of fear. Certainly, no one wants to
be grossly over-staffed, but a good owner/manager will focus
on keeping adequate employee base numbers, and ensure continuing
training, safety programs and top of the line employee benefits.
It's your campground, why not have “happy campers?”
4. Selling your business. This does not mean selling in the
true literal sense. It means focusing on being sure your company
image is one that is the envy of your competitors and is known
in the business world as a first class operation. You can do
this by having key managers attending industry conferences.
Be clear and tell them that their focus at these seminars is
to network, thoroughly gathering as much new information that
they can. They should also 'sell' other attendees on the importance
and efficiency of their company in the industry. Upon their
return, have follow-up meetings with these managers where they
will report in detail on what they have learned. Managers attending
conventions and seminars should take opportunities to enjoy
themselves, nevertheless, they will be the “face” of your company,
it's wise be sure that they focus on making them business meetings,
and not all “playtime.”
If planning, organizing, staffing, direction and control are
five major factors in managing a company, staying focussed throughout
the process, is paramount!
About the author:
Matt Bacak became "##1 Best Selling Author" in just a few short
hours.
Recent Entrepreneur Magazine’s e-Biz radio show host is
turning Authors, Speakers, and Experts into Overnight Success
Stories.
Discover The Secrets http://promotingtips.com
Circulated by Article
Emporium
|