Tags |
|
|
Links |
|
|
Other Added - Family Business and Its Communication Challenges
Interview with Steve Coscia discussing professionalism in the HVAC and other service industries:Today we have Steve Coscia, author of “HVAC Customer Service Handbook”, speaking with us. Steve’s book gives service professional the strategies and techniques required to deliver world-class customer service. Hello Steve.Irene: What inspired you to write “HVAC Customer Service Handbook”?Steve: After performing a few HVAC customer service speeches and writing several customer service articles for HVAC trade magazines I observed how little information there was for the front-line HVAC Rep so I wrote the book. Thus far the book has been very well received by the HVAC trade press.Irene: Tell us about your personal experiences you have had that led you to share your knowledge with others
New ways of looking at an old situation can be a breath of fresh air and help a business evolve, but are often discounted due to thinking such as, "You don't really understand the business, the customers, the market, etc." People sometimes have a knee-jerk reaction when a change is suggested, no matter how innovative, to "the way things have always been done here." They get attached to a particular routine or to doing something in a way that worked well in the past, and tend to want to stick with what used to work - especially if "what worked before" was their idea or innovation in the first place.
For owners who have created and grown their b
All businesses need feedback from their customers, potential future clients, employees and vendors. But how do you go about getting this feedback or soliciting these questions to insure you get the input you need to run an on-going successful business? Recently I noticed a non-profit group soliciting ideas and questions. And their headline was; Donate Your Question.Well in considering this I remembered a few years back the company I built and how many times people would not comment; good, bad or otherwise. Well some would say that; No News is Good News right?Yet as an entrepreneur I knew I had to get into the minds of the customer to better my products and services. I also knew that I needed to be one with my vendors and their knowledge was param
In business (family and other), it is not uncommon for a communication gap to go on for a very long time without being addressed. People are often reluctant to face a communication problem head-on, and often may not even be aware that poor communications are the hidden root cause of some other business problem. If we are out of sync with our business partners or colleagues, and we choose not to discuss our differences, the business can, and usually will, suffer.
When complacency sets in or when we try to ignore a problem, hoping it will go away on its own, no matter how well we try to camouflage the issue and keep things looking "normal" on the surface, we stop maximizing our potential, and the potential of the business.
If the ongoing challenge of business is to figure out how to compete in a constantly changing landscape, the solution requires a commitment to a continuous dialogue between the key parties to determine how to leverage strengths and maximize opportunities - and to cope with individual communication styles.
Successful organizations are willing to ask tough questions (and to hear tough answers) and foster collaboration to determine optimal solutions. No matter how smart and independent we are, it is pretty much impossible to succeed over a sustained timeframe by ourselves. The art of strategically combining resources, skills and thinking enables us to stand out in a competitive marketplace.
Planning for effective succession
Communication issues are often magnified in a transition situation, which is why the healthy existence of any business requires both a succession plan and good succession management.
A succession plan requires the right candidates and addressing a myriad of financial and legal issues, but the transition itself requires great communication. Even capable candidates will fail unless there is an open and productive dialogue taking place. In a family business where a parent is developing a child to take over, or in a non-family business where an owner is trying to delegate in order to free themselves up to focus on business development, it is common to hear (above or below the surface) the following:
Successor: "How can I ever grow if you don't delegate?" Owner: "You're inexperienced. You don't understand what it took to develop this business." Successor: "I'm supposed to be in charge, but every time there is a problem, you get involved." Owner: "Of course I want to stay involved; it's my business at risk."
New ways of looking at an old situation can be a breath of fresh air and help a business evolve, but are often discounted due to thinking such as, "You don't really understand the business, the customers, the market, etc." People sometimes have a knee-jerk reaction when a change is suggested, no matter how innovative, to "the way things have always been done here." They get attached to a particular routine or to doing something in a way that worked well in the past, and tend to want to stick with what used to work - especially if "what worked before" was their idea or innovation in the first place.
For owners who have created and grown their bu
Among the hottest web sites these days are community portals and social networking sites. Community sites are nothing new in the online world – AOL has always been based on community, for instance – but the word and the concept is taking on a whole new popularity and meaning today. Sites like Facebook and Myspace have taken off into outer space by combining new technology with old marketing knowhow. Tell a friend to bring a friend and the party just gets bigger and bigger.Most online communities grow on the “tell-a-friend” principle. Promoting gifts and trends using social networking sites has become the single fastest-growing advertising niche in years. If you run an online community or business of any sort – discussion forums, photo community, blogging site or even an online store – you can make the “t
If the ongoing challenge of business is to figure out how to compete in a constantly changing landscape, the solution requires a commitment to a continuous dialogue between the key parties to determine how to leverage strengths and maximize opportunities - and to cope with individual communication styles.
Successful organizations are willing to ask tough questions (and to hear tough answers) and foster collaboration to determine optimal solutions. No matter how smart and independent we are, it is pretty much impossible to succeed over a sustained timeframe by ourselves. The art of strategically combining resources, skills and thinking enables us to stand out in a competitive marketplace.
Planning for effective succession
Communication issues are often magnified in a transition situation, which is why the healthy existence of any business requires both a succession plan and good succession management.
A succession plan requires the right candidates and addressing a myriad of financial and legal issues, but the transition itself requires great communication. Even capable candidates will fail unless there is an open and productive dialogue taking place. In a family business where a parent is developing a child to take over, or in a non-family business where an owner is trying to delegate in order to free themselves up to focus on business development, it is common to hear (above or below the surface) the following:
Successor: "How can I ever grow if you don't delegate?" Owner: "You're inexperienced. You don't understand what it took to develop this business." Successor: "I'm supposed to be in charge, but every time there is a problem, you get involved." Owner: "Of course I want to stay involved; it's my business at risk."
New ways of looking at an old situation can be a breath of fresh air and help a business evolve, but are often discounted due to thinking such as, "You don't really understand the business, the customers, the market, etc." People sometimes have a knee-jerk reaction when a change is suggested, no matter how innovative, to "the way things have always been done here." They get attached to a particular routine or to doing something in a way that worked well in the past, and tend to want to stick with what used to work - especially if "what worked before" was their idea or innovation in the first place.
For owners who have created and grown their b
One of the common mistakes salespeople make is they fail to recognize at what level they should be selling their products or services. There are 5 possible sales levels where you can direct your energy, time and talent in the sales process. They are selling at:The product/service level. This is where the salesperson focuses primarily on the price or features of the product or service and define their product as a commodity. The typical reaction in this phase is to lower price due to a prospect’s price resistance or competitive pressure.The transaction level. This is where the salesperson sees the sales process in traditional terms – prospecting, the presentation, overcoming objections, closing the sale. In most cases this approach still tends to focus on the process rather than the customer.atter how smart and independent we are, it is pretty much impossible to succeed over a sustained timeframe by ourselves. The art of strategically combining resources, skills and thinking enables us to stand out in a competitive marketplace.
Planning for effective succession
Communication issues are often magnified in a transition situation, which is why the healthy existence of any business requires both a succession plan and good succession management.
A succession plan requires the right candidates and addressing a myriad of financial and legal issues, but the transition itself requires great communication. Even capable candidates will fail unless there is an open and productive dialogue taking place. In a family business where a parent is developing a child to take over, or in a non-family business where an owner is trying to delegate in order to free themselves up to focus on business development, it is common to hear (above or below the surface) the following:
Successor: "How can I ever grow if you don't delegate?" Owner: "You're inexperienced. You don't understand what it took to develop this business." Successor: "I'm supposed to be in charge, but every time there is a problem, you get involved." Owner: "Of course I want to stay involved; it's my business at risk."
New ways of looking at an old situation can be a breath of fresh air and help a business evolve, but are often discounted due to thinking such as, "You don't really understand the business, the customers, the market, etc." People sometimes have a knee-jerk reaction when a change is suggested, no matter how innovative, to "the way things have always been done here." They get attached to a particular routine or to doing something in a way that worked well in the past, and tend to want to stick with what used to work - especially if "what worked before" was their idea or innovation in the first place.
For owners who have created and grown their b
Name, position, company, company logo, mailing address, office number, home number, mobile phone number and email address are just a few items of information that may be included on a business card. Companies and professionals use business cards to establish a business presence among clients or potential customers. These cards also serve as a reference in case a client needs to make contact. Business cards are often handed out during formal meetings, business transactions, formal introductions, corporate gatherings and business conventions.Can you get business cards for free?If you are interested in having your own business card made, there are a lot of companies that offer free business card printing. Companies make use of a variety of materials, designs, styles, fonts and ink colors for differen
Successor: "How can I ever grow if you don't delegate?" Owner: "You're inexperienced. You don't understand what it took to develop this business." Successor: "I'm supposed to be in charge, but every time there is a problem, you get involved." Owner: "Of course I want to stay involved; it's my business at risk."
New ways of looking at an old situation can be a breath of fresh air and help a business evolve, but are often discounted due to thinking such as, "You don't really understand the business, the customers, the market, etc." People sometimes have a knee-jerk reaction when a change is suggested, no matter how innovative, to "the way things have always been done here." They get attached to a particular routine or to doing something in a way that worked well in the past, and tend to want to stick with what used to work - especially if "what worked before" was their idea or innovation in the first place.
For owners who have created and grown their b
What did they do in ancient Egypt that employers are still using with amazing success today? They analyzed handwriting.Does handwriting really show the personality of the writer? Does analyzing the writing of potential job candidates work?Answer: YES. 90% of European employers consistently use it for hiring, promotion, and interpersonal conflict. Obviously this repeat use indicates satisfaction with the results.However, for many North American employers it is still an unknown quantity. It sounds “flaky.” It sounds just plain weird.But stop to think about this for a moment.We all make judgments on others by reading their body language. We watch when they walk or perform any other physical movement. We watch their facial expressions. Once we know someone we
New ways of looking at an old situation can be a breath of fresh air and help a business evolve, but are often discounted due to thinking such as, "You don't really understand the business, the customers, the market, etc." People sometimes have a knee-jerk reaction when a change is suggested, no matter how innovative, to "the way things have always been done here." They get attached to a particular routine or to doing something in a way that worked well in the past, and tend to want to stick with what used to work - especially if "what worked before" was their idea or innovation in the first place.
For owners who have created and grown their businesses, the company represents a lifetime of financial and emotional effort. Taking a step back or accepting a new way of doing something can be a difficult task. Sons, daughters or key employees who are motivated and able become frustrated during the transition process. The parent's or owner's uncertainty may be interpreted as a lack of trust or respect. When the people involved in a transition find it difficult to communicate in a constructive way, it makes the transition process that much more painful for everyone who works in that business.
In any organization, how does an owner/leader effectively transition his or her skills, knowledge and experience to someone else, while encouraging their growth? How can you "let go" as a business leader or owner, and still feel confident that the organization will continue to grow and thrive in new ways without your constant participation or supervision? Strategic planning is the key.
Strategic Planning to Get on the Same Page
Even at a time when I did not fully understand the transition challenge, and quite by accident as a strategic planning facilitator, I observed the strategic planning process to be effective in opening doors of communication that have been locked for years!
Any effective transition plan or work environment must recognize and accommodate the needs, goals and objectives of the organization at large, as well as those of each individual team member. Strategic planning is an IDEAL way to discuss these needs, differences, and strengths. In order to optimize products, services and positioning, strategic planning requires new perspectives. Strategic planning is a proven method to help everyone get on the same page while setting up a business to thrive in a sustainable way.
With the commitment to create the time, the space and the right processes to work together strategically, something magical begins to happen. Everyone involved in the process starts to communicate. Once differences are put on the table, new ideas and creative thinking begin to thrive. The ice is broken. Discussions about market data, resources, trends, and dreams for the future begin to come together in new strategies for the future.
If you are thinking, "It could never happen with the players in my business", it is probably necessary to bring in an experienced facilitator. With a neutral party facilitating a discussion, people are less likely to hold on to their resistance to new ideas, and more likely to open up with ideas of their own.
Seasoned facilitators help participants express themselves, and get heard in a respectful, trus
HTTP = HTML link (for blogs, profiles,phorums):
<a href="http://www.otheradded.com/article/40591/otheradded-Family-Business-and-Its-Communication-Challenges.html">Family Business and Its Communication Challenges</a>
BB link (for phorums):
[url=http://www.otheradded.com/article/40591/otheradded-Family-Business-and-Its-Communication-Challenges.html]Family Business and Its Communication Challenges[/url]
Related Articles:
Canadian Business and Investor Visa
Focus on the Right Things to Grow Your Business Better
Make Your Cold Calling Sales Prospecting Work Better
Bookmark it:
|