Shifting into the millennium what business gear are you in?
How have you prepared for the 21st century? How are you developing and keeping the winning edge? How will you stay one step ahead of the competition? Well, if you've ever heard someone say "Shift into high gear" you're close. Shift is the operative word. Transitioning from one way of doing things to another. Transitioning and shifting are very close.
Just shift (transition) from one method of operation or philosophy to a better one. Not all at once just identify what needs to be shifted, and go for it little by little day by day. Gear by gear. Shift is easier than change. Shift is more understandable than paradigm. And shift is a prerequisite for success in this century.
Fundamental business, sales, customer service, and personal shifts are needed to receive your passport to this millennium. Presented here are the business shifts.
Shift from narrow vision to wide vision. From CEO to front-line people, get everyone to see and buy the big picture. The big picture must be clear and bright for the (daily) little pictures to be in focus.
Shift from complacent to urgent. Take it for granted and lose it. Create a renewed sense of urgency from the CEO to the front line. The CEO sets the trend, but if you want your company to have a sense of urgency, show your own.
Shift from doing too many things half-fast to doing a few things at full speed. The more you put on your plate, the more likely you are to spill something. Be the best at what you do and not the master of everything. Stick to your plan.
Shift from empowerment first to empowerment second. The average company has empowerment failure. In fact, most business bigwigs couldn't define empowerment if you threatened them with their job. Empowerment doesn't work because there is no clear guideline as to what employees are empowered to do.
Shift from complicated to simple. Use real world language to describe everything simplistic communication (contracts, manuals, policies, laws) will breed fewer errors, fewer lawyers, and much better understanding.
Shift from not on the internet to everyone in your company on the internet. The internet is the communication device of tomorrow to the people who master it today. The internet is five years old. Look at TV, radio, and telephone when they were five years old.
Shift from "orientation training" and "periodic training" to "Daily training and personal education." Train everyone, everyday. Make training the last thing to be cut from the budget not the first.
Shift employees from satisfied to loyal. Create a real team not a cast team. Have more parties and fewer meetings. Have an awards lunch once a month, and recognize the heroes of your business. Read your mission statement if it sounds hokey trash it. Let your employees write your mission statement, not your ad agency. Create an atmosphere where people want to come to work, not have to come to work.
Shift from nine-to-five mentality to 24-hour focus. Be prepared and willing to do business when the opportunity arises. Make it easy (through friendly technology) to do business with your company 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
Now, I'm not telling you that you have to employ all of these shifts. I am saying others are. Your choice.
Next week: Sales Shifts stay tuned...
Jeffrey Gitomer is the author of "The Sales Bible," and "Customer Satisfaction is Worthless, Customer Loyalty is Priceless." President of Charlotte-based Buy Gitomer, he gives seminars, runs annual sales meetings, and conducts training programs on selling and customer service. Inquiries should be faxed to the Warsaw Business Journal at (48-22) 646-0576 or e-mailed to salesman@gitomer.com
